It appears James Wiseman won’t return to the Warriors until January at the earliest.
According to Warriors coach Steve Kerr, the second-year center still hasn’t been cleared to scrimmage yet. Wiseman is recovering from surgery after tearing his meniscus during a game on April 10.
Kerr updated reporters on Wiseman’s status before Monday’s game against the Orlando Magic. When asked if Wiseman won’t be ready until 2022, Kerr all but confirmed it.
"Where are we, Dec. 6?” Kerr asked. “He hasn't scrimmaged yet. By the time he comes back and scrimmages, then it's gonna take some time from there. You guys can do the math. I don't want to be a headline."
Kerr said Wiseman remains in good sprits despite the slow recovery and continues to do individual work. Friday will mark the eight-month mark since Wiseman’s injury. The athletic and intriguing 7-foot-tall 20-year-old was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
“More than anything, I feel bad for James,” Kerr said. “I’m dying for him to get out there for his own well-being and improvement and where he is in his young career. He’s too young for something like this to happen, so I feel bad for him. He’s maintained a really good attitude and he gets his work in everyday. Whenever he gets out there, he gets out there and we’ll assess at that point and decide how we want to use him and what we want to throw at him.”
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Kerr added that Klay Thompson will stay in the Bay Area to rehab from his torn Achilles when the Warriors go on a five-game East Coast road swing later this week. The Warriors will return on Dec. 20 against the Kings and will also play Dec. 23 against Memphis Grizzlies, which are two dates which have been circled as return dates for Thompson, per reports. Thompson, however, recently hinted he might not return until January.
Andre Iguodala will miss his 10th straight game with a knee injury Monday, but Kerr said the veteran has been playing the last four or five days and should return on the upcoming road trip.
"He’s made great improvement and should be playing soon,” Kerr said.
