FYI: NBA Teams are categorically NOT ALLOWED to withold their players from The Olympics

There's been a lot of discussion about the Warriors "not allowing" Wiggins to join Canada's Olympic team, and this is simply not true.

As per The Athletic:

A Warriors spokesperson responded to a request for comment from The Athletic by saying the decision was made mutually by Wiggins and the team and Golden State could not preclude him from playing for Canada. This was a medical decision, team sources said.

The Warriors said that this was a "mutual decision" but also clarified that they could not preclude him from playing for Canada.

This is because of an over 30 year agreement the NBA has with FIBA where teams are not allowed to hold players back from major international tournaments.

under the NBA's agreement with FIBA, NBA teams are required
to permit their players to play in certain major national-team
competitions, provided that adequate insurance is obtained.

These include the Olympics, world championships, continental
championships [such as the European Championships], and relevant
qualifying tournaments.

Source

Another article was written about this a few years later:

The agreement gave all basketball players the right to play for their national teams

Source

And another article references this a few years later again:

“Like Dirk, I can’t stop him,” Cuban said in an email reply to ESPNDallas.com. “It’s his decision.”

Cuban said he did not specifically tell Parsons that he didn’t want the small forward playing for Team USA after signing a three-year, $46 million deal with Dallas. Cuban didn’t think it was necessary and isn’t allowed to pressure players to not play international ball.

Source

As proof that this 34 year agreement still stands, The 2024 Paris Olympic Games website actually references the agreement, stating that it is indeed still in effect:

NBA players can play in the FIBA World Cup. In May 1990 FIBA and the NBA signed an agreement allowing NBA players to participate in FIBA events.

Source

Aside from the actual legality of it, it simply doesn't make any sense for the Warriors to have held out Wiggins:

1. Probably half of the NBA players playing in the Olympics are in some ways involved in trade talks

2. No other team has held out their players – it doesn't make sense that the Warriors would hold out Wiggins of all people

3. There is no contract risk to either Wiggins or the Warriors from injury – NBA players are required to have injury insurance when they play in these international tournaments, as required by the FIBA-NBA agreement.

TL;DR, Wiggins categorically was not held out of the Olympics by the Warriors. At best, this was a mutual decision with Wiggins himself as the final say. At worst… Wiggins hasn't been very willing to play for team Canada in the past and it's possible he may not have wanted to play this time either.

FAQ:

"But sources said that Wiggins wanted to play!"

Of course they did, because the only source for this information is Wiggins and the Warriors. They wouldn't come out and say that he made the decision not to play, for whatever reason it actually is, as that's a very bad look.

"But sources said that there was an injury concern!"

Maybe there was! But either way, the Warriors simply could not preclude him from joining the Olympics. Even suggesting that he maybe shouldn't is iffy, according to the NBA-FIBA agreement.

"But sources said that it seems like it was the Warriors decision!"

It's very possible that some reporters are unaware of the rules regarding NBA teams and international play and bought into the narrative from Wiggins and the Warriors, but the actual Warriors spokesperson's words, from The Athletic article above, did confirm that the Warriors are not allowed to preclude him from joining the Olympics.