James Wiseman’s first season with the Indiana Pacers will officially consist of less than a quarter of basketball.
After exiting in the first quarter of the Pacers’ season opener with a non-contact injury on Wednesday, the big man was diagnosed with a torn left Achilles tendon. The Pacers announced that. The setback is the latest for the 23-year-old, whose career has been plagued by injuries since the Golden State Warriors selected him with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Wiseman left Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Pistons after appearing to suffer the injury while backing down after hitting a 3-pointer from the top of the key. He planted his left leg awkwardly, then looked behind him as if he thought someone had called him. There was no one there.
He then struggled to walk down the middle of the field and needed help from teammate Obi Toppin to get off the ground. He immediately went to the Pacers’ locker room and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game With a calf injury. No further details about Wiseman’s injury were initially revealed.
Another injury for Wiseman
Wiseman joins the Pacers this offseason after spending last season with the Pistons. He spent his first two seasons in the NBA with Golden State.
Knee and wrist injuries limited Wiseman to 39 games as a starter for the veteran Warriors. He then missed the entire 2021-22 season with a torn meniscus during Golden State’s run to the NBA championship.
The Warriors traded Wiseman to the Pistons before the midseason trade deadline in 2023, and he has been a journeyman player ever since. He saw the most action of his career in 63 games with the Pistons last season and joined the Pacers this season as Myles Turner’s backup.
Now, a once-promising career derailed by injuries will see another season disappear.
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