NBA Update: Warriors Rookie James Wiseman Wants To Be Like Nikola Jokic

Golden State Warriors rookie James Wiseman has been learning his way into the league by trying to mimic some of the best big men in today’s NBA.

On Thursday, the Nuggets were able to thump the Warriors 114-104. Stephen Curry scored a game-high 35 points, while Denver’s star big man Nikola Jokic recorded his fifth triple-double of the season with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.

Discussing Jokic’s monster performance after the game, Wiseman admitted that he has been patiently “studying” film and emulating the Serbian’s style of playing.

“[I’ve been] studying film, taking my time studying film, like figuring out the angles, especially a player like [Nikola] Jokic,” Wiseman told Fanatics View. “He’s a great player in the league.”

“Studying film just brought me a long way because I’m a fast-learner,” he continued. “So when I study film I can be to imitate that and put it on the floor.”

Thursday’s game at Pepsi Center was Wiseman’s first regular season match-up against Jokic. Surprisingly, the second overall draft pick did a tremendous job, tallying a total of 18 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Reflecting on his performance, Wiseman is confident he that he was able to learn from his mistakes guarding Jokic as the game progressed.

“Man, [Jokic] got a lot of tricks so I just had to make sure I stay attentive like every second that I was guarding him, I knew that I was supposed to get like an arm bar on him but he got me on the spin move with the ‘and one’ but I was just learning,” the former Memphis Tigers star recalled.

“Each quarter I got better and then he tried to hit me with a pump fake but I didn’t go for it,” he concluded. “Each quarter I was most definitely improving.”

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, on the other hand, is not rushing Wiseman’s progress. Based on Kerr’s assessment, the youngster will soon be able to know his best spots on the floor.

"James has to figure out the spacing on those plays," Kerr examined. "Young guys tend to get too close to the rim.”

“They want to get right next to the rim when somebody's driving and sometimes it's actually better to space out a little bit, get to the dunker spot, six-to-eight feet outside the hoop and give the passer an angle,” he continued. “So all of those things are going to come as he gains more experience and a our guys get more comfortable playing with him."