SAN FRANCISCO – Three days into training camp, the biggest mystery surrounding the Warriors is beginning to unfold.
James Wiseman, who struggled with court perception and spatial understanding as a rookie, has shown signs of handling the blur of activity around him and adapting on the fly.
In short, Wiseman is already earning the minutes.
“I’m really excited about James’ physical progress. He looks good, feels good, his knees are fine. Mentally,” coach Steve Kerr said Monday. He understands the concept quicker.It’s the first time I’ve ever had a real training camp.From day 1 to day 3, you can see that he’s picked everything up and made the necessary adjustments.”
Wiseman is entering his third season, and this he attended for the first time At a full NBA training camp. He got sick as a rookie and spent last season rehabilitating his surgically repaired right knee.
Training camp lessons don’t do much for veterans, but they could be of great benefit to Wiseman, as long as June drafts Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins are the only ones with little NBA experience.
Only Jonathan Kuminga, who didn’t go to college, has less post-high school experience than Weisman, who played 69 minutes in three games for the University of Memphis.
I mean, pretty much everything he sees is new.
“I’m blessed just being there and just playing… just playing,” Weisman said. “Getting into the league was such a difficult process for me.
“And now that I am here, I am grateful to be back on the court again.”
Weisman, 21, Most Prominent Participant at Golden State’s offseason workout program. He is the only team member of his team who has been fully present at his game with the Chase picking him up at center.
“This summer has been great for me because I got the rep and was able to adapt to everything,” Weisman said. I’ve played it, so it’s not that hard.”
Though he was only 19, Weisman’s athleticism and length (7’1″, 9’6″ standing reach) were evident from the moment he made his NBA debut on Dec. 22, 2020. soft. He was raw, so he looked raw.
During the 39 games he played as Rook, Wiseman sometimes seemed lost in space, unsure of where to go, what to do, or how to get involved. Part of the blame lies with Kerr, and he admits it.
Nonetheless, these factors have led to extensive analysis of his game. can he play? Some concluded that the Warriors had failed by picking Wiseman second overall in the 2020 draft.
The Warriors maintained their faith in Weisman, highlighting his inexperience as a factor in their physical and mental errors.
Related: What is Wiseman’s role this season?
The first two years of Weisman’s career were riddled with injury, illness and misuse. he is healthy now He’s been coached – assistant coach Dejan Milojević has been lured in from Europe, primarily as an investment in Weisman’s growth – on the finer points of basketball.
Wiseman is learning and able to apply the lessons. Feeling the game and attuned to its speed, the missing elements are the necessary steps to reach the next level.
