Andrew Wiggins Speaks on Status for Home Games: "Back is definitely against the wall. I'm gonna keep fighting for what I believe."

NBA Media Week has begun, and obviously one of the big topics for the Warriors is Andrew Wiggins’ status for upcoming home games this season given San Francisco’s vaccination rules for hometown teams. Recently, the NBA denied Wiggins’ appeal for a vaccination exemption for his faith, which is something that has come to the front of the discussion, but today at Media Day, he declined to comment on his decision, saying “Anything that has to do with my status, vaccination, I’m going to keep that private. It’s a personal matter, so I’m going to keep it personal.”

With the scrutiny that’s been around the league recently regarding players refusing the vaccine, it comes as no surprise that many around the NBA have made the decision to keep personal matters personal, much like Wiggins. One thing he did mention was that the environment in the locker room has not changed and that his teammates continue to support him. “It’s all love” Wiggins said after the question was posed about his teammates and their reception to his decision. “It’s all love and support… It’s my team, you know I love them, I would talk to them about anything.”

Wiggins seems rather unphased by the critiques he’s gotten through the story, telling reporters that he’s not made uncomfortable by them. “I’m confident in my beliefs, what I think is right and what I think is wrong” he said after asked about how he was responding given his more laid-back, lowkey nature. As The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson wrote on his Sunday Randomness column yesterday, Wiggins is known for his resilience and confidence: He’s played 94% of his regular-season games and has adjusted well to his role in Golden State (especially with Steph Curry off the floor) with increased efficiency on similar volume. He’s comfortable with who he is, and it appears that it will remain unwavering as the questions about his ability to play in the team’s home games continue to flow in.

Wiggins did admit, however, that his back was against the wall. "Back is definitely against the wall. I'm gonna keep fighting for what I believe. What's right to one person isn't right to the other and vice versa."

It seems as though the sage continues to see another day.

(Photo credit: Will Newton / Getty Images)