Warriors’ James Wiseman: ‘Going into my second year, I don’t feel lost’
During the first quarter of Saturday night's win over the Thunder, Warriors guard Stephen Curry found teammate James Wiseman sitting courtside.
Moments earlier, Curry had delivered a bounce pass in the key to center Kevon Looney, who went up for a dunk and got fouled. Curry explained to Wiseman that, when he returns from knee surgery, he can throw down an alley-oop in that same situation instead of waiting for a bounce pass.
This was an important lesson for Wiseman — not just because Curry offered valuable information, but because Curry showed Wiseman that he was thinking about life with the young center back in the lineup. Curry knows that in order for the Warriors to stay relevant long-term, they likely need to make sure this isn't a wasted season for Wiseman.
The team announced Monday that he has been cleared for practice, which means Wiseman finally can start parlaying all he has learned from the bench into group workouts. The question now is when he'll return to games. Though no such timetable has been set, Wiseman is optimistic that he'll be far more ready whenever that day arrives than he was last season.
“I feel way more comfortable,” said Wiseman, who has added between 7 and 10 pounds of muscle in recent months. “Going into my second year, I don't feel lost. I don't feel confused out there. I feel like I know what I'm doing.”
Thrust into a major rotation role last season despite having only three games of college experience, no Summer League and no preseason, Wiseman often looked overwhelmed by the NBA'S speed and physicality. The Warriors had a net rating of plus-4.7 without him and minus-8.8 with him. Head coach Steve Kerr realizes that he had rushed Wiseman's development, expecting Wiseman to execute a complex system when he should have instead brought Wiseman along slowly.
Whenever Wiseman does return this season, he probably will back up Looney, play no more than 15 minutes a night and focus on what he does well: running the floor, catching lobs, blocking shots. By simplifying Wiseman's duties, Kerr hopes to boost the 20-year-old's confidence.
But in the meantime, Wiseman will have as long as he needs — and perhaps even a bit longer — to return for games. The Warriors have yet to clear him for 5-on-5 scrimmages. When Wiseman shows he's ready for the next phase in his recovery, Golden State likely will assign him to its G League affiliate in Santa Cruz so he can iron out inconsistencies in a lower-stakes environment.
It remains unclear whether Wiseman will be with Santa Cruz for regular-season games or merely practices and scrimmages, but Kerr said, “Everything is on the table. ... Anything is possible.” Unlike some players who might view the G League as a demotion, Wiseman would welcome a Santa Cruz stint. After a half-year rehabbing on his own and studying video of Warriors games, he is eager simply to play games again.
“He's locked in mentally,” guard Gary Payton II said. “He wants to get back on the court, so he's in here night and day.”
From his courtside seat during games, Wiseman has made a point to focus on Looney and forward Draymond Green — two players who understand Kerr's system as well as anyone. Seldom is either out of position defensively or slow to crash the offensive glass. When Curry needs a screen or a dribble hand-off, Looney and Green are happy to oblige.
Green and Looney are imperfect blueprints for Wiseman, however. The 7-foot, 254-pounder with a 7-6 wingspan can soar and do things Looney and Green only can dream of doing.
That's why Wiseman also has watched plenty of video of Utah's Rudy Gobert and Miami's Bam Adebayo. Someday, if all goes as planned, Wiseman will follow their trajectory — from project to All-star.
But that's in the future, when Wiseman can try to begin making good on the David Robinson comparisons. Now, as he eases back into practices, Wiseman wants to employ the advice Curry and others have provided him during this lengthy rehab.
“I understand a lot now,” Wiseman said. “It's much, much better this year.”