Wiseman, Warriors agree on his development for big offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
LAS VEGAS — In any sport, roster fit on paper compared to the actual roster fit in games can be apples to oranges. That was the case when the Warriors selected center James Wiseman with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, one spot behind Anthony Edwards and one ahead of LaMelo Ball.
The Warriors’ most-glaring long-term flaw appeared to be a star big man. They already had the shooters in Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. They already had Draymond Green as their unique Swiss Army knife and defensive star. Adding an ultra-talented 7-footer could be their latest move in extending the dynasty.
But as Wiseman’s rookie year went on, which didn’t include a training camp or preseason slate after playing only three games in college, questions regarding his fit continued to grow.
Do the Warriors really need a true center? Can Wiseman thrive in Steve Kerr’s system? How long will they have to wait for him to hit his potential?
A torn meniscus that stopped his first pro season short after 39 games didn’t do Wiseman any favors. Now entering Year 3, or really Year 2 for him after watching the Warriors win a championship from the sidelines, Wiseman and the coaching staff are on the same page for a critical offseason of development. It all comes down to one word that can take him and the Warriors a long way.
Simple.
“I’d say just playing my role, just keeping it simple,” Wiseman said to NBC Sports Bay Area on the latest episode of Dubs Talk in an interview one day before his Las Vegas Summer League debut. “Just playing within the system and not trying to do too much. I really don’t have to do as much. Just do the most important parts of my position and star in my role to the best of my ability.
“Rebounding, running the floor, blocking shots and protecting the rim. That’s really it.”
Wiseman doesn’t have to be at the top of the arc trying to dribble through his legs and throw up a step-back three. Maybe that will come one day. He’s full of natural offensive skills.
Last season, Looney, 6-foot-9, led the Warriors with 83 dunks in the regular season. Wiseman had 84 dunks in his 39 games as a rookie. By percentage of field goal attempts, Gary Payton II was second on the Warriors last season, behind only Looney. Wiseman is listed as being nine inches taller than Payton, and that might be on the cautious side.
It didn’t take long for the 21-year-old Wiseman to showcase…