Wiseman and Kerr a work in progress
James Wiseman is finding life as an NBA rookie to be an adventure, and that goes for Warriors head coach Steve Kerr as well as he tries to guide the nolongerateenager through the season.
Wiseman, who turned 20 on Wednesday, felt he played “really well” during Sunday’s 117111 loss in Atlanta, shooting 4for9 with five rebounds in 18 minutes, but he was given just one stint of playing time in each half. “I was very surprised,” he said during Monday’s media session. “I just knew that was coach’s game plan, trying to figure something out. But I was kinda confused, I can’t lie.”
Kerr wasn’t specific about his critique on Wiseman or what’s in store with the Bucks up next Tuesday night at Chase Center, but said, “Everything we’ve talked about this year is trying to make the playoffs and develop our young guys. We’re right in the thick of things, so it’s important not to assume that minutes equal development. It also includes observation from the sidelines, earning minutes.
“If there are mistakes made in the previous game, let’s work on those. If we don’t correct them, it’s less playing time. It can’t just be where we throw him out there and let him go for 30 minutes every night, because frankly, he’s not ready for that.”
Wiseman understands that. “I’ve just got to do what got me here: rebound, block shots and run the floor,” he said. “Don’t try to do something that’s something out of my game, because I think I’m improving. I’m getting to the basket faster, trying to be more aggressive with my rebounding. I think I’m playing way better defense than previous games, and I’m being way more vocal on the defensive end.
“I think I’m a great defender ,but I need to be better on my timing and footwork in the rotations. Mind you, I only played three games in college. I’m still behind the 8ball. But I’m getting exponentially better each day.”
Kerr said it’s normal for a player to have growing pains entering the NBA so early. “It was the same thing for a lot of highly touted prospects who didn’t have college experience, even guys like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett. I don’t know that after Kobe’s couple of airballs in the playoffs against Utah in his rookie year, we could have said he’s gonna be a topfive player of all time. We just have to be patient with James. We just can’t force the issue.”
Briefly: Wiseman said he gets advice from a number of NBA players, including Brooklyn’s Kyie Irving, and that he and Kevin Durant are especially close. “I talk to KD every day” via text, Wiseman said. “I’ve been knowing him since high school, when he watched film and told me what to work on, how to get into the league, stuff like that. He’s been telling me about how he was able to fit into the system here.” ... Kerr said Stephen Curry felt great when he arrived at practice, and that “everything is trending” toward him playing Tuesday night.