Steve Kerr compares James Wiseman’s benching to young Steph Curry, Draymond Green: ‘Those guys had to fight’

After a rough night in LA, Warriors coach Steve Kerr was doing his best to put a positive spin on the evening, which was highlighted (or low-lighted?) by James Wiseman’s time in Kerr’s doghouse.

The star rookie missed Wednesday night’s practice because he forgot to take an NBA-mandated Covid-19 test over the All-Star break. Kerr responded by benching Wiseman until the game was completely out of hand in the fourth quarter. Golden State lead by three points at one point in the first half but lost in humiliating fashion, 130-104.

But back to that positive spin from the coach. Here’s part of what he said postgame, courtesy of The Athletic’s Anthony Slater.

Steve Kerr: "You have to prove it in this league. If you want to be Steph or Draymond, you have to do what they did. And guess what? Both those guys were benched their rookie year. Both those guys had to fight. Even the superstar players have to earn their way in this league."

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 12, 2021

There we go, coach. This is all normal!

Well, neither Draymond Green nor Stephen Curry had a high-profile benching as Wiseman did (to my recollection, please correct me if I’m wrong), though each had their struggles.

Curry, now famously, was benched in favor of journeyman Acie Law by former coach Don Nelson at times. As a second round pick playing behind All-Star forward David Lee, Green had to fight just to get off the bench.

Here’s a comment from Curry on the matter courtesy of Brady Klopfer of SB Nation.

Steph Curry, asked about being benched in 4th quarters when he was a rookie: "I definitely remember them. They made me who I am."

Declined to mention Acie Law IV this time.

— Brady Klopfer (@BradyKlopferNBA) March 12, 2021

As the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, James Wiseman is clearly expected to rise to superstar status, or something close to it. His reaction after his benching was encouraging, so that bodes well for his chances. He played with an edge and racked up 14 points and seven rebounds in just 12 fourth-quarter minutes.

Here are a couple of his postgame quotes, per Warriors beat writers Connor Letourneau and Wes Goldberg.

James Wiseman: "I was mad, so I just had to make sure I go out there and play hard."

— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) March 12, 2021

He was mad?? Who was he mad at??

Wiseman on playing in the 4Q: "I was actually angry at myself … I was ready to go out there and play and give them my all."

— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) March 12, 2021

Oh, alright, cool. Not mad at coach Kerr. Just mad at himself. Wiseman also said postgame that he has a “great relationship” with his coach, despite the discipline.

And that’s good, because there’s a lot of work to do in Golden State. How will their current superstars mesh with their chosen future star, Wiseman? The Warriors are trying to thread the needle by playing winning basketball while exposing their young players, (Wiseman along with guard Jordan Pool and Nico Mannion) to the realities of the NBA.

It’s all made for entertaining basketball this year, but the losers of four straight games for the first time this season, the Warriors are running out of lesson-teaching time. We’ll see what lineups Kerr cooks up on Sunday against the heavily-favored Jazz.

(Photo credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports)