James Wiseman shines as Warriors win preseason opener in Japan
The Golden State Warriors kicked off their championship defense with a 96-87 win over the Washington Wizards in Saitama, Japan. But their best player was one who didn't play a single game in the championship run last season, third-year center James Wiseman.
Wiseman missed all of the 2021-22 season after complications from knee surgery last in the previous season. He came back to play in Las Vegas Summer League, but announced his return loud and clear in the NBA's first preseason game, scoring 23 points on 8-11 shooting while collecting 9 rebounds. And he dunked the ball a lot.
Having a rangy lob threat like Wiseman adds a new dimension to a Warriors offense that was already difficult to defend. Draymond Green and Kevon Looney are solid rebounders and excellent defenders, but neither would be confused with a high jump champion. With Wiseman, defenders have to choose between guarding Steph Curry one-on-one or leaving Wiseman free for a lob, and it's a no-win decision.
After the game, Wiseman told reporters, "I just went out there and played my game. I wasn't trying to do something that was outside my boundaries."
Most of the Warriors starters played limited minutes, with Curry and Green leaving after 13 minutes. Guard Klay Thompson won't play in either of these teams' games in Japan. The Wizards played their starters only slightly more, aside from Japanese power forward Rui Hacihmura, who played 25 minutes and scored a team-high 13 points in his return to his home country.
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