At 3 a.m. PT on Friday, the Golden State Warriors opened up the 2022 NBA preseason with a contest against the Washington Wizards at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.
While All-Star caliber players like Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Bradley Beal and Andrew Wiggins suited up, it was third-year center James Wiseman who stole the show.
After missing a chunk of his rookie season and all of his second year in the association due to a knee injury, Wiseman impressed in his return to the court in the preseason opener. The former No. 2 overall pick tallied 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field with eight boards, an assist and a block in 24 minutes off the bench.
Behind Wiseman, the Warriors sealed a 96-87 victory over the Wizards on Friday to start the preseason.
Following Wiseman’s impressive performance against the Wizards, the NBA community on Twitter chimed in with a flurry of reactions. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying about Wiseman and the Warriors on Friday.
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James Wiseman SHOWED OUT in the #NBAJapanGames
🔥 20 PTS (8-11 FGM) | 9 REB pic.twitter.com/SJn1Y7q36g
— NBA (@NBA) September 30, 2022
James Wiseman was the story of the Warriors' preseason opener. Finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds in 23 bench minutes. Five dunks. Went 8/11 shooting. Sealed the win with a lefty hook and two FTs in final couple minutes. Moved well and was a presence at the rim.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 30, 2022
Former Santa Cruz Warriors assignee James Wiseman DOMINATED in the @warriors preseason debut in Japan!
🇯🇵 20 PTS
🇯🇵 9 REB
🇯🇵 8-11 FG
🇯🇵 23 MIN pic.twitter.com/4PMR0uktJs— G League TV (@GLeagueTV) September 30, 2022
This might be the highlight of the preseason opener for the Warriors — Donte DiVincenzo saves a near turnover, one-hand transition find for a James Wiseman dunk on Porzingis pic.twitter.com/XoobA8LVbs
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 30, 2022
Big man, big game. James Wiseman finishes with five dunks on a 8-11 FG, 20pt, 9 reb night. https://t.co/WVKrjs2ysL
— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) September 30, 2022
James Wiseman moves way too smoothly for being that big of a human.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) September 30, 2022
James Wiseman reminded us this was his first game ever with a crowd.
— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) September 30, 2022
Feels good being a James Wiseman truther today.
— r/Warriors 🏆 (@GSWReddit) September 30, 2022
Such a positive sign for James Wiseman coming off the summer. Not only did he play a significant amount of minutes he performed well. This bodes well for the status of his knee. Assuming his knee can also hold up under a repetitive load of several games, this would be huge. https://t.co/qG7D0bmgMe
— Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D. (@DrNiravPandya) September 30, 2022
James Wiseman…..is back. 💪🏾
— Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D. (@DrNiravPandya) September 30, 2022
the amount of PNR with James Wiseman is pic.twitter.com/CZB97KwMTo
— Shohei Ohtani Stan Account (@AndyKHLiu) September 30, 2022
Spread the floor, James Wiseman drag screen for Steph, lob, the dunk. It's that simple. pic.twitter.com/1AQxpjLKDw
— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) September 30, 2022
JAMES WISEMAN POSTERIZES KRISTAPS PORZINGIS pic.twitter.com/FVdMD9k66v
— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) September 30, 2022
James Wiseman doubters right now pic.twitter.com/qXxvDGbuUa
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) September 30, 2022
lol good luck man pic.twitter.com/Hx5q8NreiX
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) September 30, 2022
Warriors beat the Wizards 96-87 to start the preseason. James Wiseman stole the show, finishing with 20 points on 8/11 shooting with 9 rebounds and 1 block in just under 24 minutes.
— C.J. Holmes 🦹🏾♂️ (@CjHolmes22) September 30, 2022
Warriors adding Divincenzo and James Wiseman to their offense pic.twitter.com/uN7ozJkUQN
— ᴊᴏꜱᴇ ☔️ (@KlayForTrey) September 30, 2022
James Wiseman today:
20 PTS
9 REB
8-11 FG
in 24 MINSThe defending champs get another weapon back. pic.twitter.com/HjNyDexVjH
— StatMuse (@statmuse) September 30, 2022
James Wiseman and Donte DiVincenzo carrying the Warriors tonight pic.twitter.com/RZbsueDEgM
— Fred 🌉🏆NBA CHAMPS🏆 (@Freddd2k) September 30, 2022
james wiseman in his first game in 17 months:
20 points
9 rebounds
72% FG (8-11)
+14
in less than 24 minuteshappy to see him healthy again 🙏 pic.twitter.com/FzUCC59MP9
— jeff (@retrojeffhoops) September 30, 2022
It’s really good to see James Wiseman healthy and moving well. I’m a believer that he’s going to be very good.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) September 30, 2022
James Wiseman tonight –
Only one on the team with Double-Digit Points (20)
Lead the team in Rebounds (9)
Highest Plus-Minus (+14)Breakout Season 👀 pic.twitter.com/iA6g51mRB3
— WarriorsMuse (@WarriorsMuse) September 30, 2022
Despite the loss of a couple of key guys this off season, it looks like James Wiseman is going to make an immediate impact based on what I just saw in Tokyo.
— Vasu Kulkarni (@Vasu) September 30, 2022
James Wiseman ripping it ‼ #NBAJapanGames pic.twitter.com/kSGb277xt4
— NBA (@NBA) September 30, 2022
James Wiseman dunked all over the Wizards 😳
(via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/9oboSKHUus
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) September 30, 2022
Heart is always full whenever James Wiseman’s thriving.
Analytics may not have favored him in his rookie season, but he’s ready to CRUSH that this season. pic.twitter.com/Dx4f5dp3bJ
— WarriorsMuse (@WarriorsMuse) September 30, 2022
Good morning. #Warriors in five. https://t.co/MqXjLeuYfJ
— Damon Bruce (@DamonBruce) September 30, 2022
My eyes are still groggy, but oh my, he looks tremendous https://t.co/SyysCBNHG5
— Brian Witt (@Wittnessed) September 30, 2022
James Wiseman was a dunking machine for the #Warriors during their preseason opener in Japan. pic.twitter.com/fhy1oUu9XX
— Joe Hughes (@VegasJoeHughes) September 30, 2022
Best game I’ve seen Wiseman ever play
— O3MaR (@KILLIO_JALEN) September 30, 2022
Preseason game No. 1 is in the books. Wiseman had himself a day.
— Bonta Hill (@BontaHill) September 30, 2022
