Mike Brown says Karl-Anthony Towns was one reason the Knicks signed James Wiseman for final roster spot

Wiseman has impressed the Knicks during training camp, and head coach Mike Brown has seen enough to back his potential. The former Golden State Warriors draft pick has a fresh start with the reigning NBA champions.

Mike Brown told Jared Schwartz that Wiseman’s high potential is the reason the Knicks decided to sign him over 30 year old Bruce Brown.

He also cited Karl-Anthony Towns’ drawbacks as a player as an area where Wiseman could add something different to the team.

Brown explained: “When you have a guy that’s 25 years old, that has the length and the athleticism and the talent as a James Wiseman, because KAT’s not athletic like that and Andre [Drummond] was once that, he still has some of it, but to have that at 25 years old, especially with where we’re at as a group, you look for guys that coulda shoulda, but at his age maybe he still can be a coulda shoulda.

“That vertical threat at the rim, the vertical threat defensively, how good he runs, you welcome that at his size and age and athleticism.”

Karl-Anthony Towns is still an undisputed starter for the Knicks, but they are continuing to look for ways to evolve. Wiseman is a player who was once the number two pick in the NBA Draft and has also seen his career impacted by injury. Now he has a fresh start.

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The Mike Brown connection

Mike Brown was part of the Golden State Warriors coaching staff in 2020 when they drafted James Wiseman to the team.

He is still holding on to Wiseman’s potential, and the idea that he can blossom into a difference-making NBA star.

While it did not work out for Wiseman at the Warriors, or the Detroit Pistons or Indiana Pacers, he will hope for better fortune on the Knicks.

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