The second pick of the 2020 NBA draft, and with the aid of a tutor and three study group sessions, James Wiseman has failed to make an impressive stride towards finding minutes back in Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors’ bench rotation.
Struggling for health reasons during the required course, introduction to the NBA Class of 2020-21, Professor Kerr assigned his gifted student to the G league for extra needs instruction.
Steve Kerr has pointed out that James Wiseman’s stint in the G League is not simply about getting some game action for the Golden State Warriors’ youngster.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Warriors’ blowout loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, Kerr detailed that practice is just as, if not more important than gametime.
"“Practice is the big thing. When you get individualized attention as the guys do in the G League, it’s easier to make more progress, I think, rather than the stops and starts that happen during the NBA season when you’re not in the rotation”, Kerr said."
Evaluating his time three-year period in the league thus far, Kerr wrote this note in the margin of Wiseman’s exam.
"“I think it’s just all part of the natural evolution of a young player who doesn’t have much experience, who happened to come into the league as the pandemic started and then missed a year-and-a-half with an injury. That’s it, that’s the bottom line.”"
Tuesday’s game was not Wiseman’s best effort as a Santa Cruz Warrior. On the second night of a back-to-back, with an active roster of just eight available players, the game turned ugly in the second half. After beating the Salt Lake City the Stars the night before, the Warriors went down 128-97 in a disappointing display. Wiseman had 15 points and eight rebounds on 7-for-9 shooting, also recording the highest plus-minus on the team at -2.
The 21-year-old is now averaging 16 points and 7.7 rebounds in three games for Santa Cruz. Some have suggested leaving Wiseman in Santa Cruz for more than the ten days originally announced. Wiseman’s game needs work within a stress-free environment as possible before he returns to The City by the bay and the expectations of the media and fans.
The Surf City boys will be looking to respond when they return home to play the G League Ignite in Santa Cruz Warriors’ annual Black Friday event.