Kerr breaks down what he saw from Wiseman’s G League debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Kerr was a bit busy Thursday night during James Wiseman’s NBA G League debut in Stockton, as his Warriors held off the Nuggets in Denver for a big win. Two days later, Kerr expressed his excitement watching film of the former No. 2 overall draft pick playing in a game for the first time in 11 months.
“I was so happy to see him the other night,” Kerr said. “I watched the tape and he just looked happy. It looked like he was excited and moving well. It’s been a long 11 months for him. Thrilled for James that he’s back on the floor.
“He deserves it.”
Wiseman himself said his return to game action “felt like a dream.” He fought off nerves, was all smiles before and after the game and his emotions couldn’t have been more clear on a strong putback dunk after grabbing his own rebound and quickly hammering home a dunk.
It’s easy to see why it was his favorite play of the night.
The 20-year-old 7-foot center scored 18 points in 21 minutes. Wiseman also had six rebounds, made both of his free throw attempts, went 7-for-13 from the field and was a team-high plus-9 in plus-minus.
To Kerr, the score sheet might as well have been blank. Wiseman underwent surgery on his right meniscus last April and then needed a clean-up procedure in December. Like everyone else, Kerr wanted to see how Wiseman moved up and down the floor and the coach came away pleased with what he saw when he put on the tape.
“I thought he moved really well,” Kerr said. “He got up and down the floor and had some scores in transition. He looked comfortable. He looked like he didn’t have anything hampering him and that was the main point with that first game. Just get his legs underneath him.
“Now it’s just a matter of getting more reps, which he’ll get tomorrow, and we’ll be able to watch some tape with him and continue to work with him.”
Following his game Thursday night, Wiseman went back to Santa Cruz with the Warriors’ G League affiliate, watched film during an off-day Friday and practiced Saturday with the Sea Dubs. He’ll be back in action Sunday at Chase Center in Santa Cruz’s game against the G League Ignite.
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Since being assigned to Santa Cruz, Golden State only guaranteed those two games for Wiseman in the G League. Kerr hasn’t talked with Wiseman yet about his performance Thursday night, but Kerr will be there to watch him Sunday and a handful of Warriors players are expected to be in attendance as well.
Regarding when he’ll be back in the NBA, the countdown now should end in the next few days and Kerr used the word “soon” before the Warriors face the reigning champion, Milwaukee Bucks, on Saturday night in San Francisco.
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