NOT ALL BAD
Wiseman a bright spot as he ties team record in his NBA debut
Thank goodness for James Wiseman. If it weren’t for the 19-year- old Warriors rookie there would have been little reason for fans to keep watching Golden State’s season opener in Brooklyn on Tuesday night.
Those who (rightfully?) changed the channel or simply shut off their TVs in disgust during the Warriors’ embarrassing 125-99 loss missed witnessing team history.
Wiseman, Golden State’s freakishly gifted and much-hyped 7-footer, scored 19 points to tie Sarunas Marciulionis’ team record for most points ever by a Warriors rookie in his NBA debut since the franchise arrived from Philadelphia in 1962.
“He played really well,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “He looked great out there. I would have preferred a game where we actually were in the game and playing at a competitive level, but obviously we got crushed.
“But James showed exactly why we’re very excited about him. He’s a really talented guy and he’s smart and hardworking and he wants to do well and fit in with his teammates, so he’s got a bright future.”
Wiseman, who added six rebounds and two steals during his 24 minutes of action in his pro debut, erased a little more of the Warriors past with his 19-point performance.
He broke Chris Webber’s record for most points by a Warriors center in his NBA debut.
“I was kind of tentative,” Wiseman said, “but I had to get myself out of it, the jitters. But once I got my confidence and once I started getting the groove, that’s when everything started coming.”
Webber, whose first NBA appearance in 1993 arguably remains the most anticipated debut in Warriors history, scored 15 points against Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon in his first pro game.
Watching Wise man quickly acclimate himself to the NBA turned out to be a good reason to stick with Tuesday’ s broadcast. He immediately announced his presence with an authoritative slam dunk for the Warriors’ first basket of the season.
Wiseman, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft last month, then treated those who stuck around to an impressive flurry of baskets late in the fourth quarter. In a span of less than a minute, he buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key, nailed a 20-footer from the corner and capped his scoring outburst with an alley- oop slam.
It was some impressive stuff from a guy who played just three collegiate games at Memphis, the last coming 13 months ago.
“I think I did really well for not playing (in) a year,” Wiseman said. “And due to the protocols and stuff, I just got to get my conditioning back up. But in terms of everything else, my first game and not playing in a whole year, I feel like I did well. But I feel like I should have been more aggressive on the boards. But we lost, so it doesn’t matter.”
Still, making a little history isn’t a bad consolation prize for Wiseman.
Other notable debuts: CHRIS WEBBER (1ST OVERALL PICK, 1993) >> Orlando selected Webber and traded him minutes later to the Warriors for Penny Hardaway (3rd overall pick) and three No. 1 picks. WARRIORS DEBUT >> After missing the first two games with a sprained ankle, Webber had 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks in his much-hyped debut at home in a loss to the would- be champion Rockets. A dunk over Hakeem Olajuwon a spin move past the Rockets star was his most memorable basket.
JOE BARRY CARROLL (1ST OVERALL PICK, 1980) >> The Warriors traded two Hall of Famers for the rights to Carroll. OK, to be fair, at the time no one dreamed Robert Parish or Kevin McHale (drafted No. 3 with the Warriors pick) would ascend to those heights.
WARRIORS DEBUT >> Had 13 points on 5- of-11 shooting and six rebounds while playing 24 minutes in a blowout loss in Phoenix.
STEPHEN CURRY (7 TH OVERALL PICK, 2009) >> Even though Curry’s mesmerizing shooting exploits at Davidson made him the talk of college basketball, there was an underdog element to the kid who was dismissed by some as too small, too fragile and too wild to make it big in the NBA.
WARRIORS DEBUT >> This was love at first sight for Warriors fans. Curry’s confidence showed from the opening tip. The 21-yearold smoothly hit a cutting Stephen Jackson for an easy layup to being his career. Then picked a Rockets guard’s pocket and confidently strode down the court to jack up a 3-pointer that misfired. Curry finished with 14 points on 7- of-12 shooting, including the Warriors’ final eight points in their one-point loss. He also had seven assists, four steals and two rebounds.
CHRIS MULLIN (7TH OVERALL PICK, 1985) >> He was an All-American and the Big East Player of the Year, yet there was still bitter disappointment in Warriorland they didn’t get the other Big East star — Patrick Ewing — when they lost the first- ever lottery.
WARRIORS DEBUT >> He came off the bench to score 15 points on 6- of- 9 shooting in 20 minutes during a win over the Sonics at the Coliseum.
KEITH (JAMAAL) WILKES (11TH OVERALL PICK, 1974) >> He arrived in Oakland after a distinguished career at UCLA under John Wooden. Wilkes brought some excitement to a franchise that needed it. In his first year he won Rookie of the Year and helped deliver the Warriors their first NBA title in his first year.
WARRIORS DEBUT >> Had 16 points and seven rebounds in season- opening loss to the Lakers in L. A.