After being the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, Andrew Wiggins was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career in the 2021-22 season. He was also a key contributor to the NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
But, despite his first trip to the All-Star Game and an NBA title in the same season, Wiggins regrets getting the COVID-19 vaccine ahead of the season.
Wiggins told Mark Carman of FanSided that he wishes he didn’t get vaccinated:
“I still wish I didn’t get [the COVID-19 vaccine], to be honest with you.”
The 27-year-old added, “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 did it, and I was an All-Star this year and 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.”
The “don’t like putting all that stuff in my body” comment has been a frequent type of explanation from athletes when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the vaccine has been proven to be safe and effective in preventing serious illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths due to COVID-19.
Had Wiggins not gotten the vaccine, he wouldn’t have been allowed to play home games for the Warriors due to local ordinances. Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving only played in 29 games due to not being vaccinated, for example.
Wiggins averaged 17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists with the Warriors in the 2021-22 season.
