STOCKTON -- From Will Ferrell to James Wiseman, semi-pro basketball is taking over Warriors storylines.
Instead of Jackie Moon, it was Wiseman's time to grab the spotlight Thursday night at Stockton Arena. The former No. 2 overall NBA draft pick made his G League debut for the Warriors' Santa Cruz affiliate, starting at center and playing his first game action in 11 month when he tore his meniscus against the Houston Rockets.
His presence wasn't enough in a 109-99 loss to the Stockton Kings.
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Here are three Wiseman takeaways from his long-awaited season debut, albeit one with Santa Cruz, as he gets closer to wearing a Golden State jersey again.
The Offense
Wiseman had his welcome to the G League moment as a former top pick the first time he touched the ball, getting doubled in the block and being forced to pass out. He missed his first few shots in the first quarter before the left-hander hit a six-foot hook shot, putting him on the scoreboard for the first time since April 10, 2021.
The 20-year-old center missed an early alley-oop and dropped an entry pass in the third quarter, an issue he has to continue working on. He also threw down a handful of dunks, made both of his free throws and went 7-for-13 from the field.
The most impressive offensive play of the night for Wiseman was his final shot attempt, making a mid-range jumper with ease.
Wiseman finished with 18 points, the exact amount he scored in his last healthy NBA game.
The Defense
Golden State Warriors
This end of the floor probably matters more to the Warriors than Wiseman's offense right now. Santa Cruz Warriors head coach Seth Cooper made it a point after shootaround to mention how Wiseman, who always has been taller and more athletic than his competition growing up, will be tasked with working on staying vertical and not committing bad fouls.
That was mostly the case in the first half, though he did have a bad foul early in the third quarter and he knew it. Wiseman unwisely left his feet and his facial expression showed he instantly knew it was a mistake.
His best sequence came a few minutes into the fourth quarter when he contested a shot, sprinted down the floor and added two points with a dunk in an instant. That's what Steve Kerr and the Warriors' coaching staff will like to see when looking at the film.
Overall, he looked willing to box out and be active around the rim, and his rebound numbers don't tell the whole story. Wiseman grabbed six boards and easily could have had more if it weren't for teammates taking a handful away from him.
The Health
The Warriors sent director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini to Stockton for a reason. First and foremost, Wiseman's health was priority No. 1 for the night.
Prior to the game, he looked spry and ready for action during drills. Just take a look for yourself.
Wiseman played seven minutes in the first quarter and just over four minutes in the second quarter. He looked athletic running down the floor, and any concerns about his knee became a bit of an afterthought. But how long would he last?
It didn't take much time in the third quarter for Wiseman to begin bending over with his hands on his knees. He was taken out at the 8:16 mark and had to catch his breath coming out of halftime. He didn't play the rest of the third quarter and after sitting on the bench for a long stretch of time, he had to get up and get his legs moving while talking with Celebrini before starting the fourth.
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Once the fourth quarter began, Wiseman look rested and ready to run up and down the floor. No more huffing and puffing. The young big wanted to finish strong and he did, scoring six points in fewer than six minutes.
Wiseman played 21 minutes, fitting right into the range the Warriors envisioned. The most important box was checked, with his next challenge coming Sunday at Chase Center against the G League Ignite.