Golden State Warriors rookie pivot James Wiseman lived up to expectations in his NBA debut Tuesday night.
Memphis ’second overall pick scored 19 points and caught six rebounds in 24 minutes during Golden State’s 125-99 loss to the Brooklyn Nets in New York.
The great man’s talent attracted strong criticism from his teammates and coaches.
“He played really well,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He looked great. I would have preferred a game where we were really in the game and playing at a competitive level, but we were obviously crushed tonight. But James showed exactly why we’re so excited about him. He’s a kind talented, smart and hardworking, and he wants to do well and fit in with his teammates, so he has a bright future. “
Wiseman flipped to win his first NBA points, but it was his agility and length that kept his new team impressive. He played with an uncommon confidence for the rookies, a trait that was made even more impressive by the fact that at 19, he became the youngest player to make an opening on the opening night for the Warriors since 1970.
“I wasn’t surprised to see that,” Warriors star baseman Stephen Curry said. “He proved this in practice and in our games. Very confident in what he can do, so it was good to see him just get his feet wet, do some reps and obviously in the last quarter he showed a little of his skill “. skill set, which you can do inside and out, so hopefully make you feel as comfortable as possible as fast as possible. And four good minutes to start his career is a big step for him individually. “
Wiseman, who missed most of the training camp and did not play in the preseason while following COVID-19 league protocols, said he was pleased with his debut.
“I think I did very well not to play [en] a year, “Wiseman said.” And because of the protocols and stuff, I was able to regain my conditioning. But in terms of everything else, my first game and not playing in a whole year I feel like I did well, but I feel like I should have done it. ”More aggressive at the tables. But we lost, so it doesn’t matter. “.
Like Curry, Kerr didn’t seem surprised by Wiseman’s ability to impact the game at such an early age. As much as Kerr and the Warriors general manager, Bob Myers, They tried to soften expectations for the fat young man, they saw the same talent that Curry and veteran winger Draymond Green realized so quickly.
“He came out and scored 19 points in his first NBA game in 24 minutes,” Kerr said. “He’s so raw, so there’s a long way to go, in terms of claiming defensive coverage. The game is slowing down for him … and that’s what’s so exciting. He’s a very smart young man. He has a tremendous work ethic and hasn’t even scratched the surface, so that’s what I think is really exciting and thinking about where he’ll be in a few months, and beyond that here in a couple of years, he has a chance to be a great player in this league, so it’s very exciting. ”
Wiseman admitted to feeling some nerves at first, but really started to find a rhythm in the final quarter with the game already out of control.
After years of seeing former Warriors star and current Nets winger Kevin Durant, he said the opportunity to face the former MVP in a real game was exciting.
“It was great to face KD,” Wiseman said. “KD and I communicated in high school. He gave me a lot of advice in terms of my game. So playing against him was different, actually seeing him on the court.
“And for me playing like a lot of time and really going out and doing what I did, I was very impressed. I was very impressed with myself. But in terms of playing (against) KD and DeAndre Jordan it was different experience. , but it made me a lot more aggressive and tough. You can’t do these soft things in the League. “