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Kendra AndrewsESPN
SAN FRANCISCO — James Wiseman will go all the way down to the Golden State Warriors’ G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, on Tuesday for an prolonged interval, Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated Monday evening.
Wiseman’s stint might last as long as 10 consecutive days, Kerr stated. The group knowledgeable Wiseman of this resolution Sunday.
“I do not take a look at this as a demotion,” Wiseman advised reporters Monday evening. “I am simply able to go on the market and hoop.”
Wiseman, the 2020 No. 2 total decide, has fallen out of Golden State’s rotation and hadn’t performed within the Warriors’ three video games earlier than Monday’s blowout 130-95 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
In opposition to the Spurs, Wiseman was a minus-6 in eight minutes, ending with two factors, two rebounds and three assists. The Warriors knew to not anticipate an excessive amount of from Wiseman on Monday, as he had some rust constructed up over the previous week, however he has been struggling all season lengthy.
Amongst Warriors gamers to play 25 minutes this season, Wiseman’s offensive, defensive and internet efficiencies — 99.7, 124.1 and minus-24.2 — all rank as final on the group, in line with ESPN Stats & Info analysis.
“He wants reps. He must play,” Kerr stated. “It is not simple when you do not get minutes.”
Monday was solely the fiftieth NBA sport of Wiseman’s profession by way of his first three years. He performed 27 video games throughout his rookie season in 2020-21 earlier than being sidelined by a meniscus harm he suffered in April 2021. A number of setbacks from that harm stored him out all of final season, except for three G League video games during which he averaged 17 factors, 9 rebounds and one help.
Throughout summer time league, Wiseman performed in 4 video games and averaged 10.5 factors and 5.5 rebounds in slightly below 20 minutes per sport.
The Warriors have a profitable observe document of sending gamers to the G League earlier than recalling them. Jordan Poole, who in opposition to the Spurs broke out for 36 factors on 13-of-20 capturing, together with 5-of-10 from 3, is the most recent instance.
Throughout Poole’s sophomore season in 2020-21, he spent 11 video games with Santa Cruz, together with a stint within the G League bubble, the place he averaged 22.4 factors in 33.5 minutes. In his subsequent season with the Warriors, Poole averaged 18.5 factors per sport and began rather than Klay Thompson earlier than Thompson’s return from harm.
“I am telling [Wiseman] this isn’t a demotion. This isn’t a punishment,” Poole stated. “… I am telling him to go down there and take 50 pictures, be aggressive, get techs, dangle on the rim, do all of it. Simply so he can perceive what he desires to be on the highest stage. That is only a step in that path.”
The Santa Cruz Warriors play their subsequent sport Sunday in opposition to the South Bay Lakers.