If any fans thought they could save a buck and still catch Stephen Curry live in person, they were out of luck Tuesday.
Curry, as well as Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney, got the night off. That’s as Klay Thompson still hasn’t appeared in preseason action as he builds up from a short, slow offseason and Draymond Green remains away from the team because of his lunging right jab.
There was nothing out of the ordinary with the wholesale resting; Golden State head coach Steve Kerr likes to give his veterans an off night — for a “mental break as much as anything,” he said pregame.
Blazers star Damian Lillard also sat out, but James Wiseman, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga and Donte DiVincenzo suited up. That group, along with JaMychal Green, out-athleted and punked the Blazers.
Wiseman recorded 18 points and seven boards in 18 minutes. DiVincenzo drove-and-dished his way to 10 assists. Moody and Green each dropped 20, and Golden State led by as much as 39.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ 131-98 win over the Blazers.
Wiseman watch
The biggest spectacle for the Warriors this preseason, at least from a basketball perspective, is what James Wiseman can provide to a championship-made team.
The third-year center missed all of last season with a knee injury. The only competitive basketball he’d played since April of 2021 was one G-League game.
But the 7-foot center has put together a strong summer by all accounts, leading Kerr to say he’s ahead of expectations. That’s even after Anthony Davis took it to him in GSW’s most recent exhibition.
Wiseman showed soft touch around the rim on the short-roll and on a second-half and-1 layup. He jammed multiple put-back dunks. He and DiVincenzo had nice chemistry and Golden State even ran some patented split action with Wiseman as the trigger man.
His defense was arguably more impressive than the overpowering athleticism in the paint. He stuffed Jerami Grant at the rim. Another possession, he contested a Keon Johnson 3, cut off another drive and then forced another miss in isolation against Grant.
If Wiseman can move his feet that quickly on the perimeter, he could be a serious defensive force.
Will there be minutes for JaMychal Green?
The defending champions may have an even deeper roster this year than last, even after losing Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr. and Juan Toscano-Anderson in free agency.
If everyone stays healthy — never a reality in the NBA — there might not be enough minutes to go around.
“I think everyone’s ready for major action, but there aren’t enough spots for major action for everybody,” Kerr said pregame. “The math doesn’t quite add up.”
One particular surplus is at the center position, with Kevon Looney, James Wiseman and Draymond Green.
Then there’s JaMychal Green, the 32-year-old veteran forward signed to a fully guaranteed one-year deal. At 6-foot-8, he’s not a prototypical center, but is much more sturdy than Porter Jr. so could see time in five-out units.
Green averaged 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per game for the Nuggets this year. Unless one of the aforementioned trio is unavailable, he likely won’t see that kind of playing time consistently.
Still, Green provides much of what the Warriors would want out of a backup big. Against the Blazers, he sank two corner 3s and flashed athleticism around the rim on putbacks. He has the size to guard multiple positions.
Green finished Tuesday with 20 points in 20 minutes on 8-for-10 shooting (4-for-5 from deep).
Even if Green is just insurance, that’s a premium plan.
Iguodala to miss season opener
Forward Andre Iguodala was also, unsurprisingly, among the Warriors who didn’t suit up Tuesday. Kerr announced that he won’t be ready for the team’s season-opener against the Lakers next Tuesday.
Iguodala, 38, is the oldest non-Udonis Haslem active player. He announced that he’d return to the Warriors — and for his 19th season — in late September.
Kerr added that Iguodala hasn’t scrimmaged yet.
“We’re just really looking at the big picture,” Kerr said. “Eighty-two game season, we want him healthy long-term. Given that he needed some time in camp, he won’t be ready.”
Iguodala doesn’t have to be on the court to make an impact; that’s part of why Golden State was more than happy to welcome him back. As Moody, Kuminga, Wiseman and other young Warriors blossom, Iguodala will have planted some basketball knowledge seeds.
