James Wiseman could be a difference-maker as the Warriors try to reach the playoffs, but head coach Steve Kerr won’t “force the issue” when it comes to playing time for the rookie center, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN.
Wiseman, the second pick in last year’s draft, is averaging 11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, but he hasn’t provided the consistent production that Golden State was hoping for. He saw just 18 minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Hawks, and Kerr indicated his playing time moving forward will depend on his performance.
“I think development also includes observation from the sidelines, earning time, earning minutes,” Kerr said. “If there are mistakes made in the previous game, let’s work on those mistakes. And if we correct those then we get more playing time; if we don’t correct them then we get less playing time. So it can’t just be throw him out there and let him go for 30 minutes because frankly he’s not ready for that.”
Kerr expressed confidence that Wiseman will eventually reach his potential, but said he needs to take part in summer league and training camp before that can happen. Last year’s summer league was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, and Wiseman missed most of training camp because he was in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Stephen Curry admitted the team had much higher expectations than battling to reach a play-in game, Friedell adds in a separate story. Curry’s return after missing most of last season with an injury was supposed to make the Warriors a contender again, but they’re clinging to 10th place after losing seven of their last eight games. “I hope it stings. I hope it’s uncomfortable,” Curry said after the latest loss. “I hope it motivates you to keep grinding, challenging yourself to get better. I hope nobody is content just being in this middle-of-the-road situation.”
- Jordan Poole quickly won Draymond Green‘s respect by standing up to him in practice last year, according to Kendra Andrews of NBC Sports Bay Area. The second-year guard has raised his numbers across the board this season and appears to be part of the Warriors’ core for the future.
- This season is Kerr’s biggest challenge since becoming a head coach, writes Connor Letourneau of The San Francisco Chronicle. Kerr inherited a team that was loaded with talent when he took the job in 2014 and has never had to focus on player development while trying to reach the playoffs.
No one deserves to be an NBA coach less than Steve Kerr, who at this point is nothing more than the white Isiah Thomas when it comes to have done all the post-player jobs there is all “pretty good” but they both think they are the greatest geniuses of all time.
Kerr should be fired, simply for what he’s doing to Wiseman. Compare Wiseman’s first game to how he looks 50 games later – that’s all Kerr’s nightmarishly bad player development and nothing else. Kerr thinks he’s the same tier as Pop but Pop is a million times better a coach and would have not only won 5 rings, but would have this same exact roster in the top 4 right now. Why does Steph Curry in a career-year never play the first 6 minutes of the 4th quarter, no matter the score? I hate you, Steve Kerr. You have ruined basketball for me for the last time!!
Draymond developed pretty well under Kerr I should say
I would venture to say draymond developed under mark jackson along with klay and steph.. proble for draymond was he had bogut and Lee in front of him
Yup, Draymond and Klay were allll Jackson. Kerr waltzed right into a team with multiple fully-developed HOFers and acts like he’s the genius. Worst dude in the NBA by far. I now know why the Knicks hated Isiah so much, its the same mentality.
Wiseman looks exactly as expected before he was drafted
Ice cold take, unless you just hated him all along (you didnt).
Go back and see things I’ve said, and you would know he is exactly as expected
Bogut important to Dray
Jackson important to Klay
Wiggins important to trade
Wiseman important to train
Poole important to play
Big 4 important to pay
through the nose
Myers planning blows
Marty bro, just stop… time to find a different team to watch man lol
Nuggets look fun, everyone loves the Lakers, maybe try them out.
^this
Marty you won. The Chronicle took up your crusade. But you can leave if you want.
The true weakness is Warriors GM does not know how to build up top tier bench and Coach does not know how to coach bad bench
As a GSW fan you get it the most. Bob Meyers has no idea how to build a bench. He thinks as long as the starting lineup has stars the team wins. Very poor management of the bench and to much money for the starting team.
Their are only 4 or 5 teams that can win a championship every year and as soon as Klay went down for the year the warriors chances went out the window. Everyone knew this was going to be a punt year and a pretty middling team with a 1st round exit. No way pop turns this team into a top 4 team.
Even if Klay didn’t get hurt again they wouldn’t have been a serious contender. As we will see when he returns at some point next season.
Buy out Steph !
Wiseman didn’t even play college ball. Unfortunately Warriors need all the help they can get. Cause might have been better to send him to G-league. Get his mins and coaching there. Then bring him up. We forget no summer league or pre camp this yr. Wiseman is for real, he will be a top talent. Just going to take few yrs. With a yr experience he will be a vital piece on a healthy Warriors team next yr.
If you watch the games Wiseman is always helping out other players missed assignments that opens up the floor for the guy he is guarding. Wiseman tries to do too much is his problem.
They should have moved Wiseman at the deadline when his value was sky high.
They should have trade the #2 pick with Wiggins to build a real bench … Wiseman is too young ruff skilled to help a contender…
Oh no …. don’t tell me you’re a small ball guy.
I’d never pass on a talented big. I’d give up Mitch n Toppin for Wiseman.
as talented as he may become he’s not fitting well in Kerr offensive system … Wiseman is way too soft to be a Thibs guy like Mitch & Toppin are
Wiseman will almost certainly be a liability defensively for the rest of this year, and into next. That had to have been factored into the decision to draft him. If a team looks at its C as principally a defender, then don’t rely on a rookie there, and maybe don’t (as a contender) draft one at #2. I think they should keep Wiseman, but – as with Minn and Edwards – it’s important to understand the player you drafted. He’s not going to be what you need or want, just because that’s what you need or want. You need to adjust to his skill set as well.
Wiseman is actually a basic pick n roll guy what the Dubs are not …