The encouraging injury news lately for Golden State fans has revolved mostly around Klay Thompson’s promising workout videos and potentially-restored mobility.

But another positive development could be extremely consequential for the team both this year and for seasons in the future.

Now-second year center James Wiseman – whose rookie season ended when he tore his meniscus in his right knee in an April 10 game against the Rockets – now appears poised to return for his first career NBA training camp.

Wiseman missed December 2020’s training camp along with Draymond Green last season because of a positive COVID-19 test, depriving the recent No. 2 overall pick from getting himself acclimated with teamwide preseason activity. After all, before his selection by the Warriors right after No. 1 overall pick guard Anthony Edwards, Wiseman had played just three collegiate games at the University of Memphis before eventually declaring for the NBA Draft.

Initially, a training-camp less Wiseman busted out of the gates for Golden State in late 2020 with a 19-point, six rebound professional debut in a season-opening loss to the Brooklyn Nets. From then on, Wiseman showed flashes amidst expected rookie growing pains before his season ended after 39 games in April at the Chase Center.

Luckily, according to coach Steve Kerr in July, it looks like Wiseman will get a little more time to hone his game for his second season.

“He’s right on schedule for everything and, as of now, medical team tells me he will be ready for camp,” Kerr told the Athletic’s Anthony Slater in late July.

With a healed meniscus, Wiseman is likely to start off of the bench for the Warriors this season behind Kevon Looney, but would have ample chances to use his elite athleticism for his 7’0” frame to seize back a starting role.

Health for training camp might not be the only boon to the center’s development – a class of two rookies was drafted in 2021 in forward Jonathan Kuminga and guard Moses Moody, and they will be able to grow with Wiseman under the newly-(re)acquired veteran presence in Andre Iguodala.

Slater said Iguodala’s role this season would include mentorship of Moody and Kuminga, and his prowess and experience from more than a decade in the league should hopefully extend itself to Wiseman.

While playing under the basket as Iguodala spends more time on the wing, the potential exists for Wiseman to pick up defensive skills from Iguodala and the ability to spread the floor better defensively as a center. This also takes some of the mentorship duty off of the shoulders of Green, who is already a worthy defensive teacher in his own right.

The floor spacing on offense also figures to be improved with the potential re-addition of a healthy Thompson and the retention of the gravity-inducing Stephen Curry and a player in Andrew Wiggins whose offensive skill set continues to grow.

Wiseman showed the ability last season to be a rim-runner and an option for lob passes and drop-offs yielding easy dunks at the rim. Where his offensive game stands to improve is in the offensive post, and this will be important to do with better looks emerging as more weapons surround him this season.

The rookie was 211th in the league in field goal percentage from the post last season, shooting just 38.3% on his touches of that variety. Wiseman never truly looked comfortable with his back or shoulder to the basket, and hopefully with a true training camp experience, more veteran support and an improved Warrior team, Wiseman can take the next step in that and other aspects of his game.