The 2022 NBA preseason got underway Friday morning as the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards took their show on the road. The teams faced off at the Saitama Super Arena in the NBA Japan Games 2022.
Both teams were at nearly full strength as Klay Thompson was the only regular for the Warriors to not play and Will Barton was the only one for the Wizards. Despite that, the game unfolded as you would expect the first preseason game to, as things got off to a slow start.
Golden State won the first quarter 16-12 and ended up winning the game 96-87 as both teams struggled to get things going offensively. They shot a nearly identical percentage from the field, as the Warriors made 36.7 percent of their shots and the Wizards made 36.9.
The difference in the game was at the free throw line, where Golden State went 31-of-40 and Washington was 19-of-30. Despite the underwhelming performances overall, there were a few standout individuals. The most impressive performance by far was by James Wiseman.
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The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft missed the entire 2021-22 season as he recovered from a meniscus tear suffered during his rookie season. Rearing to get back out there, he was excellent against the Wizards.
Wiseman poured in a game-high 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field. He also grabbed nine rebounds with one assist and one block in 24 minutes of play.
Things couldn’t have gotten off to a better start for Wiseman, who has a lot to prove this upcoming season. Golden State is counting on him to be an important part of the team’s rotation even though Kevon Looney was re-signed.
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Wiseman is the future of the franchise at the center position. While he may be eased back into a role to start the season, it would not be surprising if he eventually overtook Looney as the team’s starter. He is oozing with potential and after developing some chemistry with his teammates, he offers a much higher ceiling.
This first preseason game was a great example of what he could offer the Warriors should he be able to remain healthy during the season.
