James Wiseman Makes His Return, Propels Warriors to First Summer League Win
It’s been about fifteen months since James Wiseman last played a basketball game and on Sunday night against the Spurs he made his return. The seven footer put up a healthy 11 points on seven shots along with two blocks. Here was his first bucket back:
Due to his nagging injury he was limited to around nineteen minutes in four minute spurts. He received a few extra minutes in crunch time when the Dubs clawed their way back into the game after trailing as many as twenty. After the game he was interviewed and said that his knee felt good which is a great sign for him and the team.
There were some things he could improve on though, as it was evident that he was still shaking off some rust. Wiseman racked up seven fouls but didn’t foul out because the summer league limit is ten. The young center also was only able to grab two rebounds but his physicality should return with more game time over the summer. The most important thing for him was that he was able to take the floor and have a positive impact on the game.
At times it felt like a Klay Thompson situation where he was forcing shots because of his missed time, but as stated earlier, he made five out of seven of them. Apart from Wiseman’s great first game back, his teammates Jonathan Kuminga, Quinndary Weatherspoon, and Mac McClung all had impactful performances as well.
The Dubs’ seventh overall pick Jonathan Kuminga tallied a game high 28 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 4 assists in his second summer league game this year after a forgettable first one a few days prior. But just like his Hall of Fame teammates he bounced back in a big way. Play after play he took control of the offense, asserting his physical play style around the rim. His only downside was his free throw shooting as he shot 7-18 from the line.
This was a concern last year but during the regular season and playoffs he seemed to have improved from the stripe. His confidence was key in the Dubs’ late game run, as he hit the game winning free throw.
Not only did the Warrior’s young players help to win but the new addition in Mac McClung seemed to be everywhere against the Spurs. The Dubs acquired him from the Lakers summer league team because they saw something in him. And he proved them right: When Kuminga wasn’t handling the ball, it was McClung who ran the offense. He dished out 6 assists, grabbed 6 rebounds and more importantly scored 22 points in his start with the Warriors. McClung hawked the passing lane, tallying 3 steals and played scrappy on defense, helping to draw together multiple stops down the stretch.
And lastly Weatherspoon, one of the Warriors’ two-way players from last season, got himself going with 11 points. He looked comfortable out there playing against high competition. Fans may remember his Christmas Day game from last year against the Suns where he proved himself on the big stage. He’s eligible for another two-way contract, but the Warriors may want to hang on to him with a full roster spot to develop him alongside the young draft picks, as he has shown some great upside as a 6’3 guard with a 6’9 wingspan and a great shot.
While they might not be playing for a championship, the Dubs’ young squad proved themselves against the Spurs as they ground out a tough win. It was also the Warriors’ first win this Summer League, as well as Wiseman’s first game back as he looks to stay healthy for next season. The Warriors next game will be against the Celtics on Tuesday July 12th at 8p.m. eastern on ESPN 2.
(Photo credit: NBAE / Getty Images)