James Wiseman was the No. 2 overall draft pick in the 2020 NBA draft class. He had some expectations from fans for his rookie seasons due to his draft position, and while he will surely be considered for All-Rookie teams, he wasn’t necessarily a superstar right away.
Not every rookie comes into the league looking like LeBron James, and it is clear that Wiseman needs time to develop. The young core around Stephen Curry has gotten a decent amount of experience this season, albeit the season didn’t end in them making the playoffs.
Steve Kerr has recently commented on James Wiseman, and it seems though he offered encouraging thoughts about the rookie. Kerr praised Wiseman’s talent and has suggested that it is in the Golden State Warriors’ best interests to develop James Wiseman.
Steve Kerr on James Wiseman: “He’s an unbelievable talent. Over time there’s no doubt in our minds this guy is going to help us.”
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— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) May 24, 2021
A big man with Wiseman’s qualities is hard to find. Part of his struggles happened due to his inexperience, and the Golden State Warriors’ system is one of the most difficult ones to adapt to. There is no question that Wiseman has a ridiculous combination of talent and athleticism. He projects as a big man who could potentially shoot well, handle the ball, and be a potent threat near the rim. That isn’t somebody the Golden State Warriors should give up on.
There is no question that this Golden State Warriors season had disappointing aspects to it. They didn’t make the playoffs in a season where Stephen Curry won the league scoring title. However, there were some encouraging signs during the season, and James Wiseman’s flashes were among those signs.