After missing all of last season with a knee injury, Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman returned to the court for his highly anticipated 2022 NBA Summer League debut.
The 21-year-old center did not disappoint in his 20 minutes of play. His first bucket of the game was a highlight alley-oop dunk, and he continued to show flashes all night. His final stat line included 11 points, two rebounds, and two blocks.
He was very impressive on offense showing the ability to score at all levels. The most impressive bucket of his night may have been when he hit a three-pointer off the dribble.
Another spot where Wiseman can help the Warriors is in rim protection. They never really had a true rim protector last year and while that did not stop them from winning the championship it will be a welcomed sight in their quest to repeat.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Golden State Warriors’ James Wiseman Will Be Major Name To Watch In NBA Summer League
As expected it will take time for Wiseman to get back into the flow of an NBA game. But, the more he plays the quicker he will learn to react and the mental side will be much quicker.
“There are a lot of things for me to work on, I mean, my timing was pretty off,” Wiseman said. “But this was my first game. I had fun out there.”
Also, the physicality of an NBA game will take some time for the 21-year-old to get used to. Facing the likes of Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo will be no easy task.
“It was physical. That’s a huge adjustment,” Wiseman said. “I’ve been out, so I’ve been doing a lot of individual workouts. So for me to just get that pushing, that physical contact, I’m proud to be out there.”
LATEST NBA NEWS: Golden State Warriors’ James Wiseman Will Be Major Name To Watch In NBA Summer League
The Golden State Warriors should be ecstatic by this first game by James Wiseman. While he still has a long way to go in development, he can be a key factor on the Warriors next season and their chances to repeat.
