It’s clear 10 games into the NBA season, James Wiseman can play. But he’s also got plenty to learn. The rookie opened up about how his first ten games have gone and discussed how he would like to improve from here.
When the Warriors beat the LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors last Friday and Sunday respectively, James Wiseman did not play in the fourth quarter in either game.
Steve Kerr opted to keep the rookie on the bench, and go with his veterans down the stretch.
How hard was it for Wiseman to watch from the sideline?
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
"It's very difficult because I want to be out there, and I feel that I can handle it," Wiseman told the media Tuesday afternoon. "I'm just working hard every day. Staying humble, working hard and I'm just waiting for coach to call my name. And I'm gonna be ready."
Watch the latest episode of Warriors Outsiders
This is an awesome answer from the 19-year-old, who by all accounts is a fierce competitor and truly wants to be great.
Golden State Warriors
Find the latest Golden State Warriors news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
What did he learn while observing?
"Execution is the main component," the 7-foot-1 center said. "Also, the defensive end is how you win championships. That's how you win games, so just focusing on that end more."
Wiseman has been on the floor in the fourth quarter of other games, but there have been additional examples of the Warriors' coaching staff taking him out in crunch time.
"We gotta remember he's 19," associate head coach Mike Brown said Monday morning on 95.7 The Game's "The Morning Roast" show. "He played in a couple of college games. We gotta keep having some patience while he grows. And it is tricky because we do want to win, we do want to get off to a good start.
"[But] we have to keep trying to give him opportunities to experience different game situations in close games down the stretch, and throughout the course of the game. Which is gonna be tricky for us because of his inexperience and us trying to win games.
"It's a thing we have in mind what we want to do. But when things pop up, we make adjustments and we go with what we feel is right not only for him but for the team and the growth of everybody on this journey."
RELATED: Wiggins describes what Warriors will be when Klay returns
We'll see what happens Tuesday night when Wiseman matches up against Indiana Pacers big men Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner.