James Wiseman is the Warriors' pick for the 2020 NBA Draft. Last season, the young centre-forward showed his potential as a big man with great athleticism and a role in opening up space.
Although James Wiseman had some positive flashes last season, his inexperienced shortcomings were often manifested. On the NBA stage, he still has a lot of work to do to reach the limits of his potential.
At present, the Golden State Warriors are also planning to cultivate future stars while chasing the championship. There have been previous reports that they will not trade the young players in the team. The Warriors are in the first gear of the NBA and are the main contenders for the championship. As for future development plans, Wiseman's growth will be the key to its success.
For the program, Warriors veteran Andre Iguodala is doing his part to ensure that James Wiseman can develop as expected and become a great big man in the future. According to a recent article by Howard Baker, Iguodala regularly sends Wiseman highlights videos of the legendary interior for Wiseman to learn and absorb.
Every once in a while, Wiseman's phone would receive a collection of these big men: Olajuwon, Sabonis, Weber, Rick Smitz, Divac. André Iguodala sent these highlights to Wiseman in the form of a video.
Olajuwon's footwork is legendary. Sabonis and Divac are the best center-forwards ever passed. Weber, both inside and out, is brilliant, both an organizer and a scorer. Smitz has a deadly right hooker.
"You're not just immersed in the game now, you're also immersed in the history of the game," Iguodala said of his mentoring to Wiseman. "It's part of you becoming a top player. You have to understand its history, you have to respect every era. ”
The 37-year-old Iguodala, a key member of the Warriors' triple-title streak and MVP of the 2015 Finals, is back to the Warriors after a gap of two years. Although his athletic ability has weakened, his wisdom and influence are still there. His guidance to Wiseman was impressive.
For Wiseman — he played just three college games before entering the NBA and suffered a knee injury during a shortened rookie season that hasn't made a comeback so far. He came to the NBA with tremendous physical flair: speed and agility, strength and skill, a respectable jumper and a 7-foot-6-inch arm span. The point now is that he hasn't yet learned how to combine these skills, which is the key to Iguodala's learning from his predecessors.