With training camp officially underway, the start of the preseason slate is looming for the Golden State Warriors. However, two key players for the Warriors are still absent from the practice floor.
Both Draymond Green and recent No. 2 overall pick from the 2020 NBA draft James Wiseman have missed Golden State’s first three days of group practices. According to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle, Green and Wiseman tested positive for the coronavirus at the start of camp.
To be able to return to the court, Wiseman and Green will need to quarantine for 10 to 12 days and receive two negatives COVID-19 tests, per NBA protocol.
After ruling out Wiseman and Green for their first preseason game against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, Steve Kerr said it’s “very unlikely” Wiseman and Green play in Golden State’s final two preseason contests against the Sacramento Kings.
Neither one will play Saturday and very unlikely to play in either game in Sacramento. We’ve got to be very careful and smart given the layoff that we’re all coming off of and then the short amount of time as it is for training camp. There’s no way I would throw either guy into an NBA game right away. You got to build up to that.
Although they didn’t participate in the group practice, both Green and Wiseman were at the Warriors facility on Thursday. Kerr said Green was able to join Golden State’s film session after going through a lifting workout. Wiseman participated in a light individual shooting routine before practice started.
Listen to Kerr’s full post-practice presser via Warriors SoundCloud.
Without Green and Wiseman in the frontcourt for the preseason, Kerr will need to lean on Kevon Looney, Marquese Chriss, Alen Smailagic and Kaleb Wesson for minutes against the Nuggets and Kings.
With no time in the preseason, Green and Wiseman’s next opportunity for their 2020 debut will be Golden State’s regular-season opener against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
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