Away from the field for eleven months, James Wiseman has finally played again. Not on an NBA floor but in the G-League with the Santa Cruz Warriors. The pivot scored 18 points (7/13 on shots including 0/2 from 3-pointers) and grabbed 6 rebounds in 21 minutes in his team’s loss to Quinn Cook’s Stockton Kings (28 points).
« Feels good, reminded me of where I was last year “Reacts the interior, which has scored the majority of its points under the circle. Author of a few dunks, the 2m13 giant showed that he had lost none of his athletic qualities and speed.
This move to the lower floor, announced earlier in the week, James Wiseman sees as ” an opportunity. Because I want to be the best version of myself. I take each day as if it were the last. I go there and try to work hard. »
His coach of the evening, Seth Cooper, specifies that he had not yet trained with this team of the development league. ” It was his first time playing with most of the guys he was on the court with tonight. The more he does it, the more comfortable he will be, that’s for sure. “, Displays the coach.
The coach shouldn’t have much time to get used to his presence as the inside is only supposed to play two games in the NBA antechamber. The San Francisco Chronicle says he could make his debut with the Warriors, the first team, next Monday against the Wizards, the same day Draymond Green is expected.
« It’s really about the overall development of James.”recalls Steve Kerr. “What we’ve been working on with him are his coming up from the field, his circle cuts on pick-and-rolls, passing the ball and being a circle protector in defense. So those are the areas we’re going to focus on. »
Steve Kerr thinks he still needs to chain the minutes on the floor to improve his condition before hoping to find his place in the rotation of the team as the playoffs approach. In the meantime, James Wiseman simply says to himself ” happy to be on the field and racing again”.
