Warriors middle James Wiseman’s long-awaited return to motion didn’t disappoint in his NBA Summer time League debut on Sunday.
Wiseman, the No. 2 total choose within the 2020 NBA Draft, confirmed off his athleticism in a bodily efficiency that included a monster alley-oop dunk from ahead Jonathan Kuminga on the Warriors’ first possession of the 86-85 comeback win towards the Spurs.
It marked Wiseman’s first bucket since March, throughout his quick stint within the G-League. Earlier than that, the 7-foot middle hadn’t performed since April 2021, lacking all of final season after present process surgical procedure for a torn proper meniscus.
Wiseman completed his Summer time League debut with 11 factors on 5 of seven taking pictures, two rebounds and two blocks in 19 minutes.
Wiseman mentioned his knee felt “nice” through the sport, though it was “tough” to carry out at occasions because of him being out of motion.
“It felt good,” Wiseman mentioned. “There are a variety of issues for me to work on, I imply, my timing was fairly off. However this was my first sport. I had enjoyable on the market.”
Warriors summer time league coach Jama Mahlalela instructed Wiseman to have enjoyable and luxuriate in himself, and the whole lot else would fall into place.
“For him to have the ability to come out and play in a summer time league sport like right this moment with good composure and taking part in on the rim, blocking some pictures, he simply seemed like a extremely good basketball participant,” Mahlalela mentioned. “That first outing is all we wished, and we instructed him to come back out, have enjoyable, benefit from the sport and let it come to him.”
Wiseman had been taking part in solo exercises whereas ramping as much as his summer time league debut, and was thrilled to have an impactful presence within the paint.
“It was bodily. That’s an enormous adjustment,” Wiseman mentioned. “I’ve been out, so I’ve been doing a variety of particular person exercises. So for me to simply get that pushing, that bodily contact, I’m proud to be on the market.”
Mahlalela mentioned Wiseman’s teammates have been cheering for him within the locker room after his first outing shortly.
“Each dialog I've with him is, I'm so happy with you however now the actual work begins,'” Mahlalela mentioned.
The Warriors received the NBA title this 12 months with out Wiseman, topping the Celtics in six video games within the NBA Finals.
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