Showing patience in Wiseman remains right tack

It’s halfway through this NBA season, and there seem to be more questions than answers in regards to James Wiseman. The Warriors’ prized center’s rookie season has largely been defined by flashes of potential, frustrating growing pains, and on Thursday night, a disciplinary benching. Despite these ups and downs, the Warriors understand that it is rare that a rookie contributes to winning, and they have publicly preached patience.

Yet there is a cohort of Warriors fans who tune into League Pass and see what LaMelo Ball — the probable rookie of the year — is doing as a point guard in Charlotte and apply those same expectations to Wiseman, whom Golden State drafted with the pick before Ball went No. 2 to the Hornets in November.

For many reasons, those expectations are unfair. Primarily, Ball plays for a team without lofty goals and at a position where he can control more of what goes on around him. Wiseman isn’t afforded the same opportunity to play through mistakes. And though this is something that will slow his development, it shouldn’t stop Wiseman from reaching his potential.

The Warriors themselves may have succumbed to expecting too much, too soon from the 19-year-old who, since his senior year of high school in 2019, has played in 30 organized basketball games.

Last week, head coach Steve Kerr seemed adamant to rush Wiseman into more minutes.

“Where we are right now, he needs to play

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