The Warriors’ Summer League team took the Las Vegas stage again on Sunday night and clawed their way to a 86-85 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
James Wiseman made his highly anticipated return to action while Jonathan Kuminga and Mac McClung fueled an epic Golden State comeback.
Wiseman’s Debut
James Wiseman tallied 11 points (5-7 FG, 1-1 3Pt), two rebounds, and two blocks in just under twenty minutes of action. The Warriors erred on the side of caution, implementing a minutes restriction for the former No.2 overall pick who was sidelined for the entirety of the 2021-22 NBA season with a knee injury. Nevertheless, Wiseman’s athleticism was apparent right from the tip, the third-year center stuffing home an alley-oop finish on the first play of the game. While he only attempted seven field goals, his five makes came in a variety of ways. Wiseman showcased his guard-like abilities on a pull-up three-pointer and even faced up to knock home a contested elbow jump-shot.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Wiseman’s return to the hardwood was his defense. He did pick up 7 personal fouls, but his versatility was on full display. Wiseman was a stout presence on the interior and showcased his aptitude to defend out in space, switching pick and rolls with ease and shuffling his feet to stay attached to smaller and quicker opposition. As Kevin O’Conner noted, Wiseman maintained a high level of discipline for a 21-year-old, impacting shots at the rim with verticality and staying engaged while in a help position. These are encouraging signs that should continue as Wiseman gets back into the swing of things.
Photograph: Garrett Ellwood/Getty ImagesThe Kuminga Experience
The good news is that Jonathan Kuminga filled up the stat sheet with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. The bad news is that Jonathan Kuminga shot 1-7 from three-point range, 7-18(!!!) from the free-throw line, and committed 5 turnovers. Kuminga was able to bounce back after a dreadful 4-point outing against the New York Knicks on Friday, but this performance did not come without its blemishes. JK operated with tunnel vision for a majority of the contest and while he did lead the team in scoring, he passed up far too many open looks for low-percentage shots of his own. In some instances, Kuminga never even took his eyes off the basket, driving straight into traffic and coughing up some nasty turnovers. His aggressive nature did earn him numerous trips to the free-throw line but he could rarely convert, leaving eleven points at the charity stripe. Kuminga is one of the top dogs on the Warriors Summer League roster and that is reflected in his playstyle, but there are clearly some kinks for the second-year forward to work out if he wants to secure a meaningful role off of the Warrior bench.
Mac McClung Impresses
It’s only Summer League but tonight, Mac McClung looked like a guy deserving of at least a 2-way contract. He was electric on both ends of the court, keeping active hands-on defense and flying downhill in transition. When the time came to self-create, McClung reached deep into his bag of tricks, employing his tight handle and outstanding athleticism to propel him to some incredible finishes. He put on a show and will be someone to keep an eye on for the rest of Summer League.
