Tag: DeMarcus Warriors

James Wiseman says it would be a ‘great situation’ to learn from Steph Curry and Klay Thompson

With the NBA draft approaching, top prospect James Wiseman said it would be “a great situation” to learn from Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

Although the Golden State Warriors’ extended offseason and pre-draft process are coming to an end, there is still little clarity on what they could do with the No. 2 overall pick.

Bob Myers and Steve Kerr could trade the selection for an established veteran or take a top-billed prospect.

If Myers and Kerr decide to stay on the clock and make the selection on Wednesday night, one name has turned into a popular pick for the Warriors in NBA mock drafts.

With the ability to jump out of the gym at 7-foot-1, Memphis Tigers prospect James Wiseman could immediately fill a positional need in Kerr’s rotation while serving as a bridge to the future in Golden State.

During a pre-draft press conference with members of the media, Wiseman spoke about the potential of playing in a lineup with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The former McDonald’s All-American said it would be a “great situation” to learn from Golden State’s pair of All-Stars.

It would be great because they won a lot of championships. So, just being in that type of tradition, being in that type of environment would be great for me. It would create an extra push in terms of my maturity as a basketball player. And just learning under Steph [Curry] and Klay [Thompson], it would be a great situation for me to be in. So, I feel like that situation would be great for me.

With the Splash Brothers floating on the wing, Wiseman could serve as an athletic lob threat and fierce rim protector in his rookie season in the Golden State frontcourt.

Over his three-game stint in Penny Hardaway’s program at Memphis, Wiseman averaged 19.7 points on 76.9% shooting from the field with 10.7 rebounds and three blocks per contest. Wiseman recorded a double-double performance in each of his three college basketball experiences.

At Wiseman’s media availability, the 19-year-old mentioned the Warriors as one of the two teams he’s worked out for during the pre-draft process. However, the Memphis product revealed he has yet to work out for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Prior to the Warriors pick, the Timberwolves hold the top overall selection in the 2020 draft.

With Karl-Anthony Towns in place in Minnesota and no invite to a workout, Wiseman could be in prime position to be on the board for the Warriors pick at No. 2 overall on draft night.

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Steve Kerr says D’Angelo Russell ‘lit up the gym’ when he came to the Golden State Warriors

Although it was a short stint in the Bay Area, Steve Kerr says D’Angelo Russell “lit up the gym” when he came to the Golden State Warriors.

With the Splash Brothers on the injury report, D’Angelo Russell took over as the lead guard in Golden State for the 2019-20 season. Although his run with the Warriors was short, Russell provided a handful of exciting moments in the Bay Area.

During his Golden State stint, the former Brooklyn All-Star averaged 23.6 points on 42.6% shooting from the field, with 6.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.

Early in the season against the Timberwolves, Russell recorded a career-high 52 points on 19-of-37 shooting with seven triples. In a loss to the Dallas Mavericks in January, Russell ripped off 30 points with eight 3-pointers in the first 24 minutes of the game.

Despite his steady numbers, there were always question marks around Russell’s fit with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. However, injuries spoiled the Curry-Russell experiment before it could begin.

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With Curry still on the bench, the Warriors moved Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a multi-player blockbuster deal at the trade deadline that landed Andrew Wiggins and two draft picks in San Francisco.

Although his time with the Warriors ended after 33 games, Steve Kerr said Russell “lit up the gym” when he arrived in Golden State. In an appearance on The Athletic’s Hoops Adjacent Podcast with David Aldridge and Wosny Lambre, Kerr praised the former Buckeye’s skillset when discussing Golden State’s moves with Kevin Durant, Russell and Wiggins.

Via The Athletic’s Hoops Adjacent Podcast:

When we decided to do the sign and trade with KD [Kevin Durant] going to the Nets — the ability to pick up a talent like D-Lo [Russell] would not have been available through any other means. So, it was definitely an asset play, and D-Lo was one of the best shooters in the league with skills. And he came in and lit up the gym. He had some nights that were just incredible. I think he made like six threes in the first five minutes of a game against Dallas. The guy’s skill is undeniable.

Listen to the full Hoops Adjacent Podcast with Kerr here.

With Russell’s time in Golden State in the past, the next page turns to Wiggins. The Warriors can use their extended offseason to utilize the former Rookie of the Year in Golden State’s system alongside Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green.

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