Warriors Look Ahead to Summer League's Cali Classic
With the conclusion of the 2022 NBA Draft — the Warriors continue their busy off-season with the California Classic.
The California Classic is a four-team tournament that includes the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. It runs from July 2 to July 5 and is hosted at the Chase Center for the first time.
Fans have long waited for the return of center James Wiseman — however — The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported that Wiseman will miss the first two games of the Classic but the Warriors aren’t ruling out a return to action for the rest of the summer.
Additionally — forward Jonathan Kuminga will miss the entirety of the tournament — as he is currently in the Congo with his brother and trying out for the national team. Kumigna will rejoin the squad in Las Vegas.
As for the most recent picks, forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. will also miss the Classic due to recurring ankle problems. A former top-ranked prospect — Baldwin Jr. had recurring issues with his ankle throughout his collegiate career — but the Warriors liked what they saw and selected him with the 28th pick. Guard Ryan Rollins lately learned of an ankle injury — forcing him to be sidelined for the entirety of summer league as well.
That just leaves guard Moses Moody. Moody — who had a solid rookie campaign and stepped up during the Western Conference Finals versus the Mavericks — will be put in a leadership role where he could guide the newcomers and teach them the ropes. With Moody comfortable playing at this level due to his time in the G-League — look for him to step up and produce great games going forward.
Guard Justinian Jessup is back as well — as the former No. 51 pick from 2020 makes his return from the National Basketball League in Australia. Jessup was part of the Next Stars Program and played for the Illawarra Hawks — just like Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball.
Though Jessup played in the 2021 summer league tournaments — Jessup returned to Australia but kept close contact with the Warriors organization. Jessup averaged 13.3 points on 44% shooting and had a season-high of 26 points. Fans can get a chance to see the young players in action starting at $35 versus the Kings on Saturday, July 2.
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