Steve Kerr: James Wiseman will eventually return to starting lineup
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr opted to change the starting lineup on Monday, moving rookie James Wiseman to the bench in favor of veteran Kevon Looney.
The move, as Kerr said on Wednesday, will not be permanent.
Kerr viewed the decision, not as a demotion, but rather as an opportunity for Wiseman to learn and further develop his game. Wiseman understood and handled the change professionally, and even agreed that it can be helpful.
The change resulted in the Warriors posting a 130-108 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 36 points while Wiseman produced 13 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots in 16 minutes.
His 16 minutes were down some from his season average of 21.1, but Kerr wants to see what works for the Warriors and is willing to test out a few lineup combinations, meaning Wiseman’s minutes may fluctuate.
“He’ll be back [in the starting lineup] at some point,” Kerr said on Wednesday. “I don’t know when that will be. I think a big part of this season for the coaching staff is to navigate the balance between trying to be a playoff team and not wasting any time developing James. The decision last game was just, ‘Okay, let’s find that balance.'”
The Warriors made the change in order to get off to better starts in games and to add another element on the defensive end with Looney. Wiseman came in and was still productive and gave the team a needed boost of energy off the bench in the win over the Timberwolves.
Wiseman this season has demonstrated maturity beyond his years, and that is something that has resonated well throughout the organization.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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