Rookie Wesson making case to stick around with Warriors
In spring 2019, after leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding as a sophomore, Kaleb Wesson participated in the NBA’s predraft process.
The feedback from scouts was clear: At 6foot9, 285 pounds, Wesson needed to shed weight. Now, after dropping 30 pounds and earning secondteam All Big Ten honors as a junior with the Buckeyes, he is competing for the Warriors’ open twoway contract.
If Wesson lands it, he’ll be eligible to play in as many as 50 of a possible 72 games with Golden State this season. Unlike past years, when two-way-contract players often had to sit out practices to maximize the number of NBA games they could play, Wesson wouldn’t have his travel and practice days with the Warriors counted as active days.
“I really like Kaleb,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s only been here 10 or 11 days, and I think he’s miles ahead now of where he was when he started. I really like him on a personal level. He’s very professional and steady and seriousminded about his work.”
To beat out fellow trainingcamp participants Dwayne Sutton, Alex Toupane and Juan Toscano Anderson, Wesson must prove he can be a reliable floor-spacing big man. His 42.5% clip from 3point range last season ranked No. 2 nationally among players 69 or taller with at least 100 attempts.
At the NBA draft combine, Wesson was the best prospect in the 3point star drill with an 80% clip. The Warriors view him in the same mold as Omari Spellman, who, before being traded to Minnesota in February as part of the deal that brought Andrew Wiggins to Golden State, shot 39.1% from 3point range on 2.2 attempts per game.
Wesson also has a chance to be above average defensively in the NBA. After slimming down at Ohio State, he excelled in ballscreen situations as a junior, cut down on fouls and often matched up against the opponent’s top big man.
In addition to playing solid positional defense through two preseason games, Wesson, 21, had a combined five points on 2for3 shooting, four rebounds and one steal in 13 minutes. Whether he lands the twoway contract, however, could come down to team need.
“I really can only worry about what I can control,” Wesson said. “Right now, I’m just trying to give my all in every practice and game. From there, all I can do is see what happens.”