Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is pretty happy so far with his prized rookie center James Wiseman. But if given the chance, the multi-titled tactician wants him to learn the ropes from one of the best big men the league has ever seen in Kevin Garnett. Speaking to reporters on Sunday (per Yahoo Sports' Dalton Johnson), Kerr bared why he thinks The Big Ticket will be the perfect mentor for the Dubs' 19-year-old phenom.
“I think KG is someone I've always admired and if I ever get the chance to connect the two of them, I would do that. KG was one of the best defensive players in the league. Like James, he came into the NBA without any experience basically. He went straight from high school, James basically went straight from high school — he only played three college games.
“That'd be a good guy to connect him with.”
After initial questions about how James Wiseman's game will translate to the pros, it looks like the former University of Memphis standout has already laid those doubts to rest. In his first 12 games for Golden State, Wiseman is norming solid numbers of 11.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in just 21.2 minutes per game. The 7-foot slotman is ranked second in the latest NBA Rookie Ladder behind Charlotte Hornets' LaMelo Ball.
By the looks of it, seems like James Wiseman is open to be under KG's wing as well.
“I actually would choose KG, too. KG was one of my favorite players. I'd just ask him the tenacity to the game, the approach, how he approached the game, how he approached each game. How did he get better as a rookie coming into the league, because he came straight out of high school too.
“So really just trying to ask him questions and pick his brain, because he came in really young as well. I'd just want to see his process in how he took the adversity and the difficulties in the NBA and how he came back from that and just improved every day in practice and in games.”
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