For Juan Toscano-Anderson and James Wiseman, the extended offseason was one which they used to bulk up, both adding muscle. This work ethic should undoubtedly help the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors have had their media day and are now onto training camp with their season opener and home opener both under a month away. Rounding into playing shape, head coach Steve Kerr will quickly find out who took the offseason to improve.
The Warriors have a playoff-caliber squad, and if Juan Toscano-Anderson and James Wiseman can take a step forward, they’ll be that much more lethal.
JTA noted to media that he put on 10 pounds of muscle this offseason. For the former Mexican league MVP, it’s important to have that weight, especially given that he’ll be used mainly as a small-ball forward this season.
As for Wiseman, a specific unit wasn’t noted, but just said to Connor Letourneau that he had put on “a lot of muscle mass this past summer.” For a now-20-year-old that played against many veteran centers, adding that size could prove paramount for his success.
Wiseman had what many considered a disappointing rookie season.
While it’s easy to say that on the outside, it’s important to remember that he had played just three collegiate games and had limited competitive action since high school. Covid-19 didn’t help any of that either.
Count me as one of the believers on the “Wiseman will improve this year and show flashes of stardom” train https://t.co/34JEKqc748
— The Sports Analyst (@TheNBAAnalyst1) September 28, 2021
Wiseman’s main problem last season was that he couldn’t play and consistently not foul.
He was averaging almost six founds per 36 minutes and 3.1 per game. It was a brutal showing when opponents came into the paint. Understanding how to play straight up can only be improved by the young center bulking up.
Gaining strength, for both Wiseman and JTA, also shows a level of dedication as the duo will be counted upon more on both ends of the court, especially if Andrew Wiggins misses 41 games. Regardless of their size, JTA and Wiseman should each see a larger role this upcoming season.
The season kicks off on October 19 with the team’s first home game on October 21. Until then, we’ll just get to see training camp footage and other clips from the team gearing up for the new season, one in which they’ll undoubtedly have championship aspirations.