[ad_1]
Andrew Wiggins did not train with the Golden State Warriors on Saturday as the team only revealed he was “in bad weather”.
In a normal year, that wouldn’t raise a single eyebrow. If it was a player other than Wiggins, you would take three seconds to wonder if this is a revolutionary affair, then forget about it and move on.
But it’s not a normal year, and he’s no different player. It’s a pandemic year, and it’s Andrew Wiggins.
The Warriors entered training camp with legitimate aspirations to win the West and hang another banner. They have one of the best MVP candidates on their list. They have one of the top Defensive Player of the Year contenders on their roster. They have two exciting rookies and an intriguing No.2 pick entering his sophomore year. They are a franchise icon and five-time All-Star set to return after more than two years lost to injury.
Despite all of this, Wiggins was not only the main title, but perhaps the only title. His resistance to getting the coronavirus shot has become an everyday story, as fans and analysts wonder what the team would potentially do without their small starting striker for 41 home games, and if he would really leave about $ 15 million on the table.
On media day, Warriors coach Steve Kerr and president of basketball operations / general manager Bob Myers expressed confidence that they would have a full roster for the start of the season. On the same day, Wiggins, normally known for his laid-back demeanor, grew impatient and outraged at questions about the vaccination, while declining to provide details on why he remained resistant.
Now we are getting closer and the problem is growing, but also more and more obscure. The city’s mandate that all Warriors players be vaccinated if they wish to participate in activities at the Chase Center goes into effect on October 13, meaning that practices that day or the next will not be available. only for vaccinated players, just like the preseason. final on October 15.
Which makes Wiggins’ absence on Saturday remarkable. If Wiggins is under the weather while dealing with the side effects of the COVID vaccination, it likely means he received a dose on Friday, the last possible day that would make him eligible for that last preseason game, assuming ‘it is a single dose vaccine. He would miss another practice or two, but he wouldn’t miss a game, regular season or otherwise.
It goes without saying that this is quite an “if”. Yes, Wiggins could be under the weather due to the side effects of the vaccination, but he could also be under the weather in a normal way, as it happens. And given his lack of vaccination, he may also be in bad weather for much worse reasons.
All we know is that the Warriors continue to express public confidence that Wiggins will be available when the Warriors play their first home game of the regular season, an Oct. 21 game against the LA Clippers. Wiggins will need to be vaccinated by Thursday, October 7 to be eligible for this game, and on Saturday Kerr again stated that Wiggins is expected to play in this game.
Sadly, we also know that such public trust in Kerr means next to nothing. Maybe he’s really confident in Wiggins’ availability; maybe he already knows that Wiggins has been vaccinated.
But what is the alternative here?
Wiggins is already publicly upset that the team has let the issue reach the media; Kerr publicly declaring that the organization is pessimistic, or concerned about its availability, would be a major mismanagement.
You could argue that Kerr’s comment is good news, as he could have simply given the response a “no comment” or equivalent response. You might as well make the point that Kerr’s comment is bad news, because if Wiggins is indeed vaccinated, Kerr could have just said that. And yes, there’s probably a desire to keep this news private, but we’re all going to find out on October 15 anyway.
So what do we have left? Especially nothing. Wiggins may be in bad weather from a Johnson & Johnson shot, or he may be unvaccinated. The Warriors’ public trust can be honest, or it can be wrong.
But until Wiggins clarifies his position or reveals he’s vaccinated, this will continue to be the only scenario in what would otherwise be a fascinating and exciting training camp.
[ad_2]
Source link