Golden State forward Andrew Wiggins may cherish the NBA title and All-Star nod that came with the best season of his career, but he still wishes a COVID-19 vaccine hadn’t been included in the mix.
“I still wish I didn’t get (the vaccine) to be honest with you,” the Canadian star told FanSided in an interview.
“But you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”
Wiggins had revealed his preference to remain unvaccinated last September but finally agreed to get the jab because a San Francisco health order would have seen him sitting out home games if he didn’t.
He earned the first All-Star selection of his eight-year career, but said in March that even that hadn’t taken the sting out of the decision, even though he told the Bay Area News Group at the time that “it all worked out for the best.”
It certainly did on the floor, where his exploits included a highlight-reel dunk over Mavericks star Luka Doncic in the Western Conference finals and a key contribution to the Warriors’ triumph over the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
His decision ensured the 27-year-old would collect all of his $31.6 million salary, and helped the Warriors avoid the kind of implosion that befell the Brooklyn Nets, who were without star Kyrie Irving for much of the season because of his unvaccinated status and were swept out of the first round of the playoffs.
It was clear, however, that Wiggins remains irked that he felt forced into the decision.
“I did it and I was an All-Star this year and a champion, so that was the good part,” he said. “Just not missing out on the year, the best year of my career.
“But for my body, I don’t like putting all of 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.”
World Cup News
-
FIFA World Cup
/ 4 weeks agoSon scores but Thailand hold South Korea in World Cup qualifier
Son Heung-min scored but South Korea were held 1-1 at home by Thailand in...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 1 month agoJapan-N. Korea World Cup game to stay in Pyongyang, JFA says
Japan’s World Cup qualifier against North Korea will be played in Pyongyang as planned...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 1 month agoGerman ex-FA bosses on trial over World Cup tax evasion
Three German ex-top football officials went on trial on Monday in a 13.7-million-euro ($14.8...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 2 months agoSaudi Arabia formally launches bid for 2034 World Cup
Saudi Arabia formally launched its bid to host the 2034 World Cup on Friday,...
By AFP