STOCKTON -- The road of a former No. 2 overall NBA draft pick usually doesn't wind up in Stockton, the home of the Kings' G League affiliate and the Calgary Flames' AHL team.
That's where we are with Warriors center James Wiseman, a milestone for the 7-footer who turns 21 years old later this month. Wiseman on Thursday night will suit up for his first game with the Santa Cruz Warriors, which will be his first game action since tearing his right meniscus in a game against the Houston Rockets on April 10, 2021, exactly 11 months ago to the date.
"I'm just most excited for him to be able to play," Santa Cruz head coach Seth Cooper said after Thursday's shootaround session.
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Wiseman looked healthy and spry during shootaround, throwing down dunks with ease that rattled the backboard and knocked off some cobwebs -- literally and figuratively.
Cooper confirmed that Wiseman is expected to play 20 to 25 minutes against the Stockton Kings, with an emphasis more on the 20 side than 25. The Santa Cruz Warriors are in a playoff hunt of their own, currently sitting one game back in the Western Conference for a playoff berth. Cooper knows Thursday night's main objective, though.
For as much as he wants the final score to feature a Santa Cruz win, this one is all about getting Wiseman ready for Golden State.
"People have some expectations for him, but for him it's not about coming out here and playing in a way that he's not gonna come and play for the Warriors," Cooper said. "It's about building him up and him being able to be ready to play for them and make an impact there when that happens."
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There isn't a set plan in place of how much Wiseman will play at a time, or how many minutes he'll play per half. It's more about monitoring him in real time and making sure he finishes as close to that minutes goal as possible.
Rick Celebrini, the Warriors' director of sports medicine and performance, was at shootaround in Stockton. All eyes will be on the prized prospect, watching his every move.
"We want him out there at the end of the game, but if that doesn't make sense for his rehab to have him sitting on the sidelines for long periods of time, we'll try and avoid that," Cooper said. "He'll be playing in some solid blocks, but not having him sit out too long of actual time in a row where he gets cold and not warm and not loose."
Wiseman himself has stressed the simplicity of his role when he does return to the Warriors. He's Golden State's only player who stands at least 6-foot-10, and he hasn't played a single NBA game this season. His knee injury happened after only six minutes of play against the Rockets. The night prior, he gave a glimpse into what he can do when healthy.
Over 23 minutes in a three-point loss to the Washington Wizards, Wiseman scored 18 points while going 9-for-11 from the field. But the other side of the ball likely is even more important for Wiseman, and one to watch against Stockton.
Even at 7-foot tall with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and 9-foot-6 standing reach, Wiseman was far from an enforcer during his injury-shortened rookie year. He averaged only 5.8 rebounds per game and had just three double-digit rebound games. Nearly one year after his injury, though, he weighs almost 20 pounds more than his listed weight and the fundamentals of defense have been placed atop his list of priorities.
"For James, that was one thing last year, just getting better with his verticality around the rim," Cooper said. "You come into the league at his age (19 years old), his whole life he's just blocked everything. Everyone that comes into the paint, you're blocking it. And you're not supposed to not block it.
"For him last year to learn to go vertical and when to challenge shots and when to be just really big and make guys miss, that's an easy place for him to start tonight and get some reps and start to get better at."
The Warriors have only committed to Wiseman playing two G League games -- one Thursday night in Stockton and one at Chase Center on Sunday. There still is no guarantee when he'll make his Warriors return, though it clearly is right around the corner. Cooper and his staff's goal is simple: Get him ready to be a Golden State Warrior as soon as possible.
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"Play in a way that's gonna help you, that you're gonna be able to play if you got thrown into a Warriors game in two days," Cooper said. "Not for him to think, 'Oh, I'm the second pick in the draft. I have to go down there and dominate.'
"It's more of, just go out there and play in a role where when you're playing with Steph Curry, you're going to be successful."
Wiseman the Sea Dub is here. The wait for Wiseman again to be with the big squad on the Warriors is almost here, too.