Golden State Warriors: 3 Reasons James Wiseman is the finishing touch
By Tony Pesta
James Wiseman can be a legit rim protector
If there is one thing that caused James Wiseman to be selected in the top-three of the 2020 NBA Draft despite hardly playing any games in college — it is his potential as a defensive stopper.
Wiseman is a hulking athlete, standing at a true seven-feet tall and weighing 240 pounds with tanks for biceps, the 20-year-old is going to have little trouble banging in the paint against the biggest opponents the NBA has to offer.
Most of all, Wiseman should be able to reject shots at a league-high rate.
As stated, Wiseman is a gifted athlete. His standing reach clocks in at 9’6″ and his max vertical lands him two feet above the rim. With this much length and athleticism, he can protect the paint in its entirety.
Timing will be the issue for a young Wiseman. Blocking shots is just as much positioning and awareness as it is athleticism.
As a rookie, Wiseman blocked just 36 total shots as compared to 121 personal fouls. A troubling inductor in what was a rough first season.
The hope here is that a year on the sidelines, watching and studying the best defensive team in the NBA, will go a long way for Wiseman in this regard. If he can put two and two together, the Dubs will have a dominant shot-blocker to round out their elite defense.