Wiseman ‘ so raw,’ but scoring 19 in debut topnotch
Did you ever drop into a pickup game and instantly realize you were in way over your head, and prayed you could just blend in and avoid colossal embarrassment?
That’s how James Wiseman did not feel Tuesday night in his first NBA game.
The Warriors’ new kid was three college games and three NBA practice sessions removed from the days when his gameday distractions included worrying about whom he was going to invite to the prom.
At 19, Wiseman isn’t the youngest NBA rookie ever, but he surely is the least-experienced rookie ever. Even kids who jumped straight from high school to the NBA, like Kobe and
LeBron, had full training camps. Wiseman is raw as sushi.
“I hate to show my age by using this expression,” head coach Steve Kerr said, “but he literally fell off the turnip truck, went out and got 19 points in his first NBA game, in 24 minutes.
“He is so raw, there is so far to go. ... And that’s what so exciting, he’s a really smart young man, he’s got a tremendous work ethic, and he hasn’t even scratched the surface. That’s what I think is really exciting, to think about where he’ll be a few months from now, and beyond that, a couple of years from now, he’s got a chance to be a great player in this league. It’s very exciting.”
Look, Kerr is a cheerleader, he knows how to boost a player with public praise. But he is no BSer. Watching Wiseman in three practices, Kerr was surprised at how good the kid looked. Kerr genuinely liked what he saw Tuesday. That’s big. Kerr knows more than you and I do about this stuff.
If nothing else, the Warriors discovered a 3point shooter to replace Klay Thompson. I’m joking, but not completely. Wiseman’s 3pointer from the top of the key in garbage time, and another long jumper, looked smooth and easy. He has maybe the purest 3point stroke on the team, other than Stephen Curry ( and Thompson).
More important, Wiseman didn’t go all deerintheheadlights. That’s partly his personality and confidence, but don’t discount the input from Kerr, who has been driving home two points to the new kid: Enjoy the game. And you can play here.
This could be a beautiful combo, Wiseman and Kerr. They need one another. Kerr needs Wiseman to produce, quickly, and become a highlevel contributor.
In Wiseman, Kerr has by far his most important molding job to do. His rep as a coach, and the Warriors’ success, depends on how well and how quickly he can help Wiseman maximize his potential.
Wiseman needs Kerr because, no matter how good and confident Wiseman looked Tuesday, he’s going to have a lot of NBA soulbusting, gutpunch moments.
When Kerr was asked about Wiseman’s play late in the game, when he looked a little playgroundy, Kerr said, “One thing I don’t want to do is take away from James’ confidence and belief in himself. I really want to feed his confidence.”
Kerr has a willing student. This jumped out from Wiseman’s postgame interviews: He’s so coachable that he coaches himself. On one play, he let down his guard and got torched on an oopdunk by DeAndre Jordan.
“That’s when I realized I gotta turn it up,” Wiseman said. “After that, I was like,
‘ I don’t got no choice, I’m in The League now. I need to go ahead and be aggressive on every possession. Don’t take nothing for granted.’ ”
OK, let’s pick a few nits. Wiseman’s screens need work. In the NBA, you set a screen like you’re blocking for Raheem Mostert. Wiseman’s screens were too passive and poorly set, which he acknowledged.
His dunks need work. Wiseman invented a new shot — the bank dunk. Twice he didn’t get enough elevation, and his dunk clanged in off the far rim. Wiseman needs dunk lessons from Kelly Oubre Jr.
Wiseman didn’t rebound up a storm, but it wasn’t a fight for rebounds kind of game.
He admitted he needs to be a better center fielder ( not his term) on defense, calling plays for his teammates.
Let’s bring in another pickupgame analogy. Wiseman was like someone who drops into a playground game and really wants to be a team player, but doesn’t know his teammates and what they can do, so he’s more eager than he is effective.
What did he do well? He executed an impressive coasttocoast, a oneman break, a la Draymond Green, although he ended it by crashing into Kevin Durant for an offensive foul.
He tossed up a sweeping righthanded ( he’s a lefty) sky hook that might turn into a nice tool.
He seemed strong enough, and willing to mix it up inside with Jordan, who is no softy. Wiseman’s going to have to provide muscle and dirty work, and he showed promise there.
It was a ghastly night for the Warriors, but at least they didn’t inflame expectations, and they might have witnessed the arrival of their next core guy.