Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr this week said he believes that center James Wiseman can follow a similar career path as Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton.
Of course, Ayton has proven to be a key piece for the Suns during their run to the NBA Finals. He has developed into one of the top big men in the league to this point, and still has plenty of room to grow after just three seasons in the NBA.
Wiseman and Ayton are both similar in size and do a lot of the same things on the floor. The Suns helped Ayton improve his game by keeping it simple for him, something that Kerr, speaking Thursday on 95.7 The Game in San Fransisco, wants to do for Wiseman moving forward.
The most interesting thing has been watching Deandre Ayton. I talk to James and text him. I’m just so inspired by what Ayton has been able to do and I think there’s no reason why James can’t follow that same path. (The Suns) really streamlined his game.
You think back to a couple of years ago and he was kind of all over the map. You could tell how gifted he was, but you weren’t exactly sure what he was. They’ve figured it out. I’m watching Ayton quite a bit and I’m thinking a lot about how we can use James and simplify the game and make him really effective for us next year.
Wiseman appeared in 39 games for the Warriors this season, averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 51.9% from the field. He finished seventh in scoring average and third in rebounding among all rookies.
He endured a bumpy rookie season with the Warriors and was in and out of the lineup due to injuries and health and safety protocols. After missing time, the Warriors were often unsure how to best utilize his skills in the lineup but the team will look to change that next season.
Despite an uneven rookie year, Wiseman still projects to have a bright future in the league. The organization will certainly stand to benefit if he can develop as Ayton has to this point, something Kerr would love to see.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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