Golden State Warriors rookie James Wiseman and veteran Klay Thompson do not appear to belong in the same breath.
Wiseman is an athletic, shot-blocking big who runs the floor and makes plays inside. Thompson is one of the best shooters in league history, a guy who excels at moving without the ball and clamping down on opposing wings.
However, Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers sees similarities, notably in terms of Wiseman's hunger to put the ball in the hoop:
“I love that he’s aggressive to score,” Myers said of Wiseman, per Ethan Strauss of The Athletic. “A lot of big guys have more of a laissez-faire attitude with scoring. I like that he’s a little like the big-man version of Klay. He’s thirsty, thirsty to score.”
Wiseman had missed 11 games with a wrist issue prior to Tuesday night's matchup with the New York Knicks. But he flourished in his return.
The No. 2 overall pick scored 14 points in just under 16 minutes of action, shooting 6-for-9 from the field and giving the Warriors another scoring option as Golden State earned a 114-106 victory. It was the sort of performance underlying Wiseman's importance to the team as a frontcourt scorer capable of making plays on the other end.
Wiseman is averaging 21.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per 36 minutes. He has made 9-of-22 three-point tries, showing the potential for expansion and why so many draft evaluators loved his ceiling.
But what Myers loves is Wiseman's intangibles and that hunger to score. The Dubs will need that hunger, especially when Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andrew Wiggins have off shooting nights.
Follow Us
Subscribe