Andrew Wiggins: ‘The only options were to get vaccinated or not play in the NBA’
Golden State Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins on Monday explained his decision to get the COVID-19 vaccine, noting that he felt “forced” to do so in order to continue his NBA career. “The only options were to get vaccinated or not play in the NBA,” Wiggins said after the Warriors’ preseason opener at the Portland Trail Blazers, his first public comments since getting the shot. “It was a tough decision. Hopefully, it works out in the long run and in 10 years I’m still healthy.”
Source: Nick Friedell @ ESPN
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Jonathan Wasserman @NBADraftWass
Best rookie preseason debuts Monday
Trey Murphy: 21 points, 6 3PTM
Bouknight: 20 on 7-12
Bones: 19 on 8-13
Primo: 17 on 8 shots
Giddey: 18-7-3 on 8-12
Barnes: 13-9-6-2-2
Champagnie: 17-10-3-2
Butler: 16 points
Wiggins: 12 points in 7 min
Banton: 6-5-4-1-2 – 7:39 AM
Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Andrew Wiggins: The only options were to get vaccinated or not play in the NBA
sportando.basketball/en/andrew-wigg… – 4:44 AM
Connor Letourneau @Con_Chron
Andrew Wiggins was quite candid tonight about why he didn’t want to get vaccinated. Agree or disagree, you have to appreciate his honesty. sfchronicle.com/sports/warrior… – 2:39 AM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Wiggins says he felt “only option” was to get vaccinated to play in NBA nba.nbcsports.com/2021/10/05/wig… – 2:27 AM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
Wiggins said he doesn’t have ill-will towards Warriors because they didn’t make vax regulations: “I guess to do certain stuff, to work, I guess you don’t own your body. That’s what it comes down to … – 1:20 AM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Woooo boy those Andrew Wiggins quotes are something. I don’t even know where to start – 1:13 AM
Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
Andrew Wiggins: “I feel like my only option was to get vaccinated or not play in the NBA.”
He went into much more detail tonight on why he was hesitant pic.twitter.com/lQ1JbDdqJg – 1:07 AM
Monte Poole @MontePooleNBCS
Andrew Wiggins: ‘No one (else) in my family is vaccinated.’ – 1:04 AM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
Wiggins on getting the vaccine: “It came down to get the vaccination or don’t play basketball.” – 1:04 AM
Kendra Andrews @kendra__andrews
Wiggins says that the fact that he’d be forced to miss games is what convinced him to get the vaccine. His concerns stemmed from the unknown of what the long term effects of the vaccine is. – 1:01 AM
Connor Letourneau @Con_Chron
Andrew Wiggins gave a detailed explanation of why he didn’t want to get vaccinated. The biggest takeaway: “Most importantly, I don’t know what it’s going to do to my body in 10 years.” – 1:01 AM
Monte Poole @MontePooleNBCS
Wiggins says he has has COVID before. ‘Wasn’t too bad.’
Says he’s worried about potential gene damage and more. – 1:01 AM
Monte Poole @MontePooleNBCS
‘It was a tough decision. Hopefully it works out in the long run.’
Warriors F Andrew Wiggins on getting vaxxed. Says he felt ‘forced to’ because he wants to play in the NBA. – 12:59 AM
Kendra Andrews @kendra__andrews
Wiggins on his decision to get the covid vaccine: “I felt that the only options was to get vaccinated or not play in the NBA. It was a tough decision.” – 12:58 AM
Connor Letourneau @Con_Chron
Andrew Wiggins on getting vaccinated: “I feel the only options were to get vaccinated or not play in the NBA. It was a tough decision. Hopefully, it works out in the long run. 10 years, I’m still healthy.” – 12:58 AM
Sean Highkin @highkin
Andrew Wiggins: “I felt like the only options were to get vaccinated or not play in the NBA. It was a tough decision. Hopefully in 10 years it works out and I’m still healthy.” pic.twitter.com/SEcUxDHolW – 12:57 AM
Adam Lauridsen @GSWFastBreak
Steph/Poole/Klay/Wiggins/Dray will be fun. – 11:32 PM
Nate Jones @JonesOnTheNBA
I know it’s hard, but when you’re dealing with a capped out/lux tax team that wouldn’t be able to play in free agency anyway, you can’t look at salaries of role guys when analyzing what they bring to the table. Like Wiggins salary shouldn’t come into play IMO – 11:15 PM
Nate Jones @JonesOnTheNBA
Wiggins is much better than most people think. He’s just a solid player. – 11:03 PM
The Jump @_Talkin_NBA
Wiggins poster! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/R54OKLVFDc – 10:57 PM
The Jump @_Talkin_NBA
This pass by Steph to Andrew Wiggins was sick! 😱
#NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/P7WJq2s9uy – 10:54 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Aaron Wiggins doesn’t look like a late second round rookie.
Solid defense and shot 3-3 from 3 for 12 points in only 7 minutes.
One game sample size, but the Thunder’s rookie class passed their first test. – 10:19 PM
Jon Hamm @JonMHamm
well, THIS Wiggins isn’t afraid of a shot… – 10:18 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
I am already too emotionally invested in Aaron Wiggins. – 10:18 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Back to back great possessions for Aaron Wiggins and playing solid defense on Bouknight. – 10:06 PM
Chris Biderman @TheWarriorsWire
According to Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Andrew Wiggins has been vaccinated and will be available to play in home games at Chase Center. warriorswire.usatoday.com/2021/10/03/war… – 10:00 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Put in Aaron Wiggins you cowards! – 9:51 PM
Connor Letourneau @Con_Chron
Stephen Curry on Andrew Wiggins getting vaccinated: pic.twitter.com/OGg60bbCRr – 2:50 PM
Sean Highkin @highkin
Stephen Curry on Andrew Wiggins being vaccinated: “It’s nice that he’s going to be available. Whatever process he went through, he’ll be able to speak on.” pic.twitter.com/OzLalrn7ws – 2:23 PM
Connor Letourneau @Con_Chron
Starters tonight: Curry, Poole, Wiggins, Green, Looney. – 2:01 PM
Chris Biderman @TheWarriorsWire
According to Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Andrew Wiggins has been vaccinated and will be available to play in home games at Chase Center. warriorswire.usatoday.com/2021/10/03/war… – 1:00 PM
More on this storyline
“They didn’t make the rule,” Wiggins said. “But I guess to do certain stuff, to work, I guess you don’t own your body. That’s what it comes down to. If you want to work in society today, then I guess they made the rules of what goes in your body and what you do. Hopefully, there’s a lot of people out there that are stronger than me and keep fighting, stand for what they believe, and hopefully, it works out for them.” -via ESPN / October 5, 2021
Wiggins also said he is the only member of his family who is vaccinated. “It’s not really something we believe in as a family,” he said. “They know that I had to. It came down to get the vaccination or don’t play basketball. I’m 26. I have two kids. I want more kids. I’m trying to do something that will generate as much money as I can for my kids and my future kids, [create] generational wealth. So, I took the gamble, took the risk, and hopefully, I’m good.” -via ESPN / October 5, 2021
Wiggins admitted that “time was not on my side” and explained why he felt compelled to get the shot when he did. “It feels good to play, but getting vaccinated, that’s going to be something that stays in my mind for a long time,” Wiggins said. “It’s not something I wanted to do, but I was forced to.” -via ESPN / October 5, 2021
