Golden State Warriors: 3 Keys to James Wiseman’s development
By Tony Pesta
James Wiseman must develop into a rim protector
It was the biggest reason the Golden State Warriors selected James Wiseman No. 2 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Rim protection has to be his bread and butter moving forward.
For all the talk of small-ball revolutionizing the NBA, there is simply no winning in basketball without someone who can protect the paint. Even the Warriors felt vulnerable at times throughout their dynasty without a true rim protector on the floor. Why do you think names like Andrew Bogut and JaVale McGee were so impactful?
Wiseman will need to fill this role eventually. And truthfully, he should be able to do it even better than those centers who came before him. In addition to being a true seven-footer, he is a freak of nature athlete who can be a powerful presence on the perimeter.
Learning the NBA ropes is not easy and Wiseman got his first taste of that last year. It is going to take time for him to develop the game-changing instincts that made Draymond Green one of the greatest defenders ever — but using Dray as a mentor should help Wiseman along the way.
Wiseman’s future as a defensive anchor is the most logical way for him to be a star in the NBA. This is where he has the most potential and it has to be a point of emphasis in his development.