James Wiseman practiced in a 5-on-5 setting for the first time since tearing the meniscus in his right knee last April, Golden State coach Steve Kerr confirmed on KNBR.
“I talked to him after and he felt great,” Kerr said on the Tolbert, Krueger & Brooks Show. “He’s definitely progressing. He’s turned a corner. We don’t know what that means. We’re obviously going to be purposefully cautious with everything. But he is coming along well, finally, after a long stretch where it was just kind of treading water. He is progressing now, and that’s a great sign.”
Wiseman got cleared for contact one week ago and started playing 3-on-3. His 5-on-5 progression is one of the final steps to take before full clearance for NBA action.
Tuesday’s 5-on-5 work included a “patchwork group” of young players who didn’t play much in Monday’s game, Leandro Barbosa, Klay Thompson’s brother Mychel and others, Kerr said.
Kerr added that the Warriors haven’t made specific plans for Wiseman when he returns because they still don’t know exactly when that will be and whether or not Draymond Green (back) will be available by then.
As a rookie, Wiseman averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game. He appeared in 39 games before suffering the injury.
“He’s so talented,” Kerr said of Wiseman. “This guy is so gifted and he works so hard. I have no doubt, no doubt that as long as he stays healthy, he’s going to be a hell of a player. But it’s all experience for him.”
Wiseman’s rehab process has taken significantly longer than expected. It’s been about 10 months since he injured his knee; even cautious approaches to meniscus surgery, such as Jaren Jackson Jr.’s, carry an approximately eight-month timetable.
Wiseman has been close for clearance multiple times, including once in December. But he had persistent swelling in his knee then, which required a minor arthroscopic surgery.
The Warriors are currently without Wiseman and Green, leaving Kevon Looney as the team’s lone center. Golden State has recently struggled defensively and on the boards. GSW has lost three of its last four games, including a 119-104 beatdown in Los Angeles Monday night.
But Golden State opted against making a move at the trade deadline to supplement its front court. The biggest factor in staying put was knowing that Green and Wiseman were going to come back after the All-Star Break and be able to contribute to a playoff run. With Wiseman’s most recent update, that expectation seems closer to reality.
Catch Tolber, Krueger & Brooks weekdays from 2 – 6 p.m. on KNBR 104.5 / 680 and streaming live on KNBR.com.