Why does Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins regret receiving the covid-19 vaccine?

Though lock-downs are now more or less a thing of the past, it would be a mistake to say the pandemic is over. Indeed, many still continue to debate the merits of strategies and vaccines used by governments the world over, including some in the NBA.

Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins was never a fan of the covid-19 vaccine

When the 2021-22 NBA regular season tipped off, it was clear as day that the Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins was not keen on the idea of receiving a covid-19 vaccine. Indeed, Wiggins refused to get vaccinated until the very last moment, allegedly going as far as to request an exemption from vaccination on religious grounds. Though he later refuted the notion that he had done so, it was fairly obvious he wasn’t happy about being forced to take the vaccine by the San Francisco Department of Public Health who issued an order requiring covid-19 vaccination for all participants age 12 and above at large indoor events.

The All-Star’s initial refusal was most definitely a headache for the Warriors, as they understood all too well that if Wiggins maintained his stance, he would have been prohibited from playing in home games for the team which would have been a significant blow to their ambitions. Fortunately for the Warriors, things never got so severe as the former No. 1 overall pick finally relented and agreed to receive the vaccine. The rest of course is history. Wiggins would go on to be a central part of what ultimately became a championship winning run for the Warriors, clinching their fourth title in 7 years.

Andrew Wiggins regrets receiving the covid-19 vaccine

Here’s the curious thing, despite knowing full well that his absence would likely have had a significant impact on the Warriors march to a title, Wiggins has now disclosed just over a month after becoming an NBA champion, that he regrets his decision to receive the vaccine. Is hindsight really 20/20?

“I still wish I didn’t get it, to be honest with you, but you gotta do what you gotta do,” Wiggins said in a recent interview. “I did it, and I was an All-Star this year and a champion, so that was the good part. Just not missing out on the year, the best year of my career. But for my body, I just don’t like putting all that stuff in my body, so I didn’t like that and I didn’t like that it wasn’t my choice. I didn’t like that it was either get this or don’t play.” Wiggins of course, was merely echoing the sentiments that he expressed earlier in the season when he said that he was “kind of forced” to get it. Yet, it’s his admission of all the accolades that he enjoyed that makes his statement ironic.