N.B.A. Denies Andrew Wiggins a Religious Exemption From Vaccine

U.S.|N.B.A. denies Andrew Wiggins’s petition for a spiritual exemption from the vaccine.

• Sept. 26, 2021Updated 11:57 a.m. ET

The N.B.A. has denied the petition of Andrew Wiggins, a Golden State Warriors player, for a spiritual exemption from the coronavirus vaccine, which is required successful San Francisco to be ample indoor events, including Warriors location games.

The league’s determination complicates matters for the squad and for Mr. Wiggins, a 26-year-old forward who was the No. 1 draught prime successful 2014. He said successful March that helium did not program to get the vaccine unless helium was forced to.

The ruling means that Mr. Wiggins volition beryllium barred from attending location games successful San Francisco, wherever his squad is based, unless helium gets inoculated. The metropolis mandated past period that radical amusement they are vaccinated to be ample indoor events. A antagonistic Covid-19 trial volition not suffice.

“Wiggins volition not beryllium capable to play successful Warriors location games until helium fulfills the city’s vaccination requirements,” the N.B.A. said successful a statement connected Twitter connected Friday.

It remained unclear connected Saturday connected what ground Mr. Wiggins applied for a spiritual exemption.

The N.B.A. does not presently necessitate players to beryllium vaccinated against Covid-19, and the players’ national has powerfully opposed specified a rule. Unvaccinated players volition beryllium allowed to play this play but indispensable taxable to regular testing. The league said this period that it would mandate vaccines for referees, nether an statement with the national representing them.

Because of section regulations successful New York and San Francisco, players for the New York Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets and the Golden State Warriors look stricter rules and indispensable beryllium vaccinated unless they person an exemption for aesculapian oregon spiritual reasons.

Mr. Wiggins, who is from Toronto, volition apt beryllium allowed to play astir roadworthy games, but helium whitethorn not beryllium allowed to look disconnected against the Knicks and the Nets. New York City began past period to necessitate impervious of vaccination for introduction into galore indoor venues, including stadiums and sports arenas.

The caller N.B.A. play is acceptable to commencement adjacent month, and the Warriors’s first location game, a preseason matchup, volition beryllium astatine the Chase Center connected Oct. 6. The squad is scheduled to play 44 games, including 3 during the preseason, betwixt October and April.

Representatives for the Warriors did not respond to requests for remark connected Saturday afternoon.