James Wiseman reacts to getting sent to NBA G League for at least 10 straight days
The Golden State Warriors are sending former No. 2 pick James Wiseman to the NBA G League, who is currently struggling to find consistent playing time for the team. However, the 21-year-old big man does not consider his upcoming stint in the G League as a demotion.
In a news conference after the Warriors' win on Monday, Steve Kerr revealed that Wiseman will play for the Santa Cruz Warriors. He explained that they want him to get regular minutes for the time being and added that the player might spend at least 10 days there before returning to the team.
"He's going to go to Santa Cruz tomorrow and we will keep him there for an extended period to get really good practice time and some games," Kerr said. "It's not going to be one game and bring him back. We want to give him 10 straight days, something like that, and then come back."
Steve Kerr says James Wiseman will go to Santa Cruz tomorrow for an "extended period." https://t.co/PFXgnczMVg
James Wiseman reacted to the news and told reporters that his stint in the G League was not a demotion. He stayed positive and was just happy that he'd be playing more minutes of basketball. He said:
"I don't look at this as a demotion....I'm just ready to go out there and hoop."
The former second overall pick was recently removed from the Warriors' rotation after a tough stretch of games. He played nine minutes in Golden State's win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, but was a healthy scratch in their last three games.
Wiseman is averaging 6.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists this season. He missed all of last season while recovering from a knee surgery. He played three games for the Santa Cruz Warriors last season before being shut down completely.
The Memphis product showed glimpses of his potential in the Summer League and preseason. However, the regular season is a different animal, and Wiseman needs all the reps he can get.
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Jordan Poole advises James Wiseman following G League stint announcement
James Wiseman is not the first prospect the Golden State Warriors have sent to the G League as they also sent Jordan Poole in his sophomore season. Poole played 11 games for Santa Cruz, averaging 22.4 points in 33.5 minutes.
The following season, Poole was a breakout star for Golden State. He averaged 18.5 points per game and was one of the most improved players in the NBA. He was also vital in the Warriors' run to the championship.
Jordan Poole told reporters on Monday that James Wiseman is not being demoted or punished by the team. He advised his fellow young player to just be aggressive in his time in the G League. He said:
"I'm telling him this is not a demotion," Poole said. "This is not a punishment. ... I'm telling him to go down there and take 50 shots, be aggressive, get techs, hang on the rim, do it all. Just so he can understand what he wants to be at the highest level. This is just a step in that direction."
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