Warriors C James Wiseman ‘put on’ for his city block, and his family, as a youth in East Nashville

We’re learning more about Warriors rookie phenom, James Wiseman, with every minute he spends on the court, as well as his insightful moments in front of reporters after practice and games.

But there’s more to Wiseman than that. His story, and the story of his family, runs deep. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Connor Letourneau provided an incredible glimpse into the early part of Wiseman’s life in the first part of a series of articles profiling the the 19-year-old and his journey.

There’s a ton of insight in the initial part of the series, and I recommend that every NBA fan read it. Here’s a small part of the article, which seemed particularly vivid to me. It paints a clear picture of what Wiseman faced and escaped from, due to his natural ability and impressive work ethic.

Gang members abandoned their street corners to join him in games of two-on-two or three-on-three. When they returned to dealing drugs, they left Wiseman alone. The towering 13-year-old running grueling drills and banging in shots at all hours was destined for a life bigger than anything the streets could offer.

“The dealers and stuff, they really supported me,” Wiseman said. “They’d just tell me, ‘Keep doing your thing. Keep working on your craft so you can get out of here and put on for your city.’”

Connor Letourneau/San Francisco Chronicle

Wow. Wiseman and his family were really in the thick of it. That was the world he grew up in, where drug dealers, and therefore drugs, surrounded him. His mother and sister were impressively strong as well, raising Wiseman under difficult circumstance.

Okay, I don’t want to give any more of this article away. I implore you to give it a read. And I’ll also suggest to subcribe to a newpaper or periodical of your choice. If you talk to them on the phone, sometimes they’ll give you deal. Just saying.

But back to the hardwood: Wiseman is still out with a sprained left wrist as Golden State travels to Texas for two games against the Mavericks followed by two games against the Spurs. The Warriors are light at the center spot due to multiple injuries, so get ready for some small-ball lineups, at least to start this stretch of games without Wiseman and Kevon Looney.

(Photo credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)