When the Warriors defeated the LA Clippers and the Toronto Raptors last Friday and Sunday, respectively, James Wiseman did not play in the fourth quarter in either game.
Steve Kerr chose to keep the rookie on the bench and go with his veterans on the final stretch.
Was it difficult for Wiseman to watch from the sideline?
“It’s very difficult because I want to be there and I feel like I can handle it,” Wiseman told the media on Tuesday afternoon. “I’m just working hard every day. I’m still humble, working hard and I’m just waiting for the coach to call my name. And I’ll be ready.”
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This is an incredible response from the 19-year-old, who by all accounts is a fierce competitor and really wants to be great.
What did he learn while watching?
“Execution is the main component,” said the 2.1-meter center. “In addition, the defensive side is how you win championships. That’s how you win games, so just focus more on that side.”
Wiseman was on the pitch in the fourth quarter of other games, but there were additional examples of the Warriors’ technical team eliminating him in times of crisis.
“We need to remember that he is 19 years old,” said associate coach Mike Brown on Monday morning on 95.7 The Game’s “The Morning Roast” show. “He played some games in college. We need to keep a little patience as he grows up. And it’s complicated because we want to win, we want to start well.
“[But] we have to keep trying to give him opportunities to experience different game situations in games played along the straight and throughout the game. Which will be complicated for us because of your inexperience and trying to win games.
“It is something we have in mind what we want to do. But when things come up, we make adjustments and follow through with what we think is right not only for him, but for the team and the growth of everyone on this journey.”
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We’ll see what happens on Tuesday night, when Wiseman faces Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner, from Indiana Pacers.
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