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Warriors rookie James Wiseman has all the tools to be an elite rim protector in the NBA.
But what could really make him special is if he gets so spectacular to defend in space on the perimeter.
The No.2 pick in the NBA Draft last month spent much of the pre-draft process in Miami and found himself playing against many quick guards.
Have these sessions given him a head start to adapt to the speed of the NBA game?
“Yes,” Wiseman told media Wednesday afternoon. “I actually trained with John Wall – he’s super fast. He taught me a lot and the game kind of slowed down.”
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We don’t yet know when Wiseman and Wall will face each other, as the Warriors and Houston Rockets don’t have a showdown in the first 37 games.
It’s safe to assume that teams will test the 7-foot cross early and often this season putting it in high-ball screen situations.
While Wiseman presumably has the lateral quickness to keep guys ahead, he has a lot to learn when it comes to the nuances of studying angles and patterns, as well as understanding certain tendencies of his opponents.
It will take a while for him to feel fully at ease, but obviously he has the work ethic and the competitive spirit to achieve greatness.
RELATED: Wiseman’s Coach Explains Best Part of Rookie Warriors Play
And it certainly doesn’t hurt to have unusual physical gifts.
“We have seen big. We have seen hard. But his mobility is incredible,” Wiseman coach Andrew Moran told Athletic’s Marcus Thompson. “It was so impressive for me.
“He’s so massive and tall, but he moves so well.”
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