Golden State Warriors player Andrew Wiggins has been denied a religious exemption from the Covid-19 vaccine. Wiggins will be ineligible to play any home games at the Chase Center stadium in San Francisco. San Francisco’s public health order requires all players, employees, and fans to be fully vaccinated to even enter the stadium.
According to the NBA, “The NBA has reviewed and denied Andrew Wiggins’ request for a religious exemption from the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s order requiring COVID-19 vaccination for all participants age 12 and older at large indoor events. Wiggins will not be able to play in Warriors home games until he fulfills the city’s vaccination requirements.”
On Friday, the San Francisco Department of Health released a statement saying, “At large and mega indoor events, all patrons 12 and older must be vaccinated at this time. Under the current order, if unvaccinated, they cannot enter indoor areas regardless of the reason they are unvaccinated and cannot test out of this requirement even if they have a medical or religious exemption.” Vaccination requirements are the same in New York City, which affects the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.
The New York Knicks are the only one of the three teams who report 100% of their players are vaccinated. Players visiting the stadiums from other cities do not need to meet the vaccination requirements.
New York Nets general manager has reported that not all of his players are vaccinated and not eligible to start the season on October 19. According to a Rolling Stone report, Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets is not vaccinated. The report also lists Jonathan Issac, who is a Christian and an ordained minister.
The Blaze reports that “Irving’s rep and multiple people familiar with his thinking declined to reveal Irving’s vaccination status.”
Misrepresentation only allows for others to attack straw men, and not reason with the true ideas and heart of their fellow man. It helps no one! True journalism is dying! I believe it is your God given right to decide if taking the vaccine is right for you! Period! More to follow
— Jonathan Isaac (@JJudahIsaac) September 26, 2021
Issac’s slammed the Rolling Stone report for labeling players as anti-vax. He tweeted, “Misrepresentation only allows for others to attack straw men and not reason with the true ideas and heart of their fellow man. It helps no one! True journalism is dying! I believe it is your God-given right to decide if taking the vaccine is right for you! Period! More to follow.”
Jonathan Isaac shares his full thoughts on vaccinations and addresses the Rolling Stone article.
"I'm not anti-vax. I'm not anti-medicine. I'm not anti-science. I didn't come to my current vaccination status by studying black history or watching Donald Trump press conferences." pic.twitter.com/EvT4KwGJwx
— Beyond the RK (@beyondtheRK) September 27, 2021
Wiggins is set to earn $31 million this year but could lose half of that if he chooses not to be vaccinated to play home games. The NBA requires those who are not vaccinated to be tested at least once daily on practice and game days. NBC Sports reports that 90% of the NBA is vaccinated.
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