James Wiseman is one of the most talented young players in the NBA, but his career has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency. The 21-year-old center was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft and was expected to be an immediate impact player.
Unfortunately, Wiseman has been unable to stay on the court due to a long list of injuries and has failed to live up to the high expectations placed upon him. In this article, we will take a look at why James Wiseman has been so bad and what the future may hold for him.
His Injuries
James Wiseman has suffered from a number of injuries in his young career. In December 2020, Wiseman was diagnosed with a sprained left wrist and was ruled out for two weeks. In January 2021, he underwent surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee and was ruled out indefinitely. He was then re-evaluated in February and was cleared to resume basketball activities.
How has it impacted his development?
The injuries that James Wiseman has sustained have had a significant impact on his development as a player. Due to the extended absences from the court, Wiseman has been unable to gain valuable experience and develop his skillset in game situations. This has put him at a disadvantage, as he has not had the chance to gain the same level of comfort and familiarity with the system that other players have had.
Furthermore, the physical toll of the injuries has meant that Wiseman has had to work hard to regain his strength and conditioning, which is essential for his success on the court. As a result, Wiseman may still be playing catch-up to reach his full potential due to the time missed from injury.
His Struggles
The toughest challenge that Wiseman has faced since joining the Golden State Warriors has been staying healthy and finding a rhythm on the court. He has had two separate extended absences due to injury, missing a total of 16 games between December and February. Additionally, Wiseman has been unable to find his footing on the court, often looking lost and out of sync with the rest of the team. Despite his raw talent, Wiseman is still learning the nuances of the NBA game.
Wiseman has been unable to replicate his college success in the NBA due to a combination of factors. First, he faced a steep learning curve transitioning from college to the pros. In college, Wiseman was able to dominate due to his athleticism, size, and strength. However, in the NBA he is up against players that have all of those same attributes plus years of experience.
This has forced him to adjust his game and find new ways to be successful. Additionally, his health issues have also hindered his progress as he has not been able to get into a consistent rhythm with the rest of the team. Finally, the Warriors have not asked Wiseman to be their main scorer, instead relying on their veteran players for offense. This has limited Wiseman’s opportunities to showcase his offensive skills and make an impact.
His Performance
Wiseman’s biggest problems have been his lack of experience, inconsistent shooting, and injury issues. Despite being the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Wiseman is still only 21 and has limited experience in the NBA. This inexperience has caused him to make mistakes and make poor decisions on the court.
Additionally, Wiseman is still developing his shooting ability and has been inconsistent so far this season. He has only shot 44.3% from the field and 32.4% from three-point range. Lastly, Wiseman has been plagued by injuries this season, missing 22 games so far due to a meniscus tear and a fractured wrist.
Why Has He Been Unable to Make an Impact?
Wiseman’s lack of experience, inconsistent shooting, and frequent injury issues have made it difficult for him to make an impact this season. Despite being the second overall pick in the draft, Wiseman is still a rookie and is still learning the NBA game. His inexperience has led to mistakes and poor decision-making on the court.
Additionally, Wiseman’s shooting has been inconsistent, which has limited his ability to score and make an impact on the game. Lastly, Wiseman’s numerous injuries have kept him out of action for long stretches, preventing him from developing any kind of rhythm or consistency on the court.
His Future
With the Golden State Warriors struggling in the standings, the return of center James Wiseman from another extended injury absence could provide a boost to the team. Wiseman is a talented young player with a great deal of potential and his return could be the spark the Warriors need to turn their season around.
Wiseman was the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and was expected to be an immediate impact player for the Warriors. However, he suffered a knee injury early in the season and has been sidelined since December. With his return, Wiseman will have a chance to make an impact on the Warriors and prove himself as one of the top young players in the league.
The 21-year-old Wiseman has shown flashes of brilliance in his brief time with the Warriors and is known for his athleticism and raw talent. He has the potential to become an elite rim protector and a reliable scorer in the paint. He also possesses a high basketball IQ and has the ability to make the right play and make his teammates better.
Wiseman has the tools to become a key contributor for the Warriors and could help the team turn their season around. If he can stay healthy and show consistent improvement, Wiseman could develop into one of the best young centers in the NBA. The Warriors have a lot of young talent, and Wiseman could be a key part of their future success.
The next few weeks and months will be crucial for Wiseman, as he will have a chance to prove himself and show the Warriors what he can do. With his return, he has the opportunity to make an immediate impact and help the Warriors make a playoff push. Wiseman has all the tools and potential to be a star in the NBA, and now it is up to him to make it happen.
Why Did James Wiseman Not Play This Year?
James Wiseman did not play this year due to a left ankle sprain. On February 5th, Wiseman went up for a layup and came down awkwardly, resulting in a severe sprain and ruling him out for 11 games. Wiseman’s injury was initially labeled as a “mild” sprain, but it was later determined to be more serious and required a longer rehabilitation period.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors organization was forced to adjust to life without their starting center. Wiseman was a key piece of the Warriors’ starting lineup and his absence left a noticeable void in the team’s lineup.
The Warriors struggled to win games without Wiseman and his absence hurt the team’s chances of making a deep playoff run.
Mental Health
In addition to the physical injury, Wiseman also had to deal with the mental toll of being sidelined. The long rehabilitation period meant that Wiseman had to watch from the sidelines as his team struggled without him.
This can be a difficult situation for any athlete and it likely had an effect on Wiseman’s mental health.
Rehabilitation
Wiseman was able to make a full recovery from his ankle sprain thanks to the hard work of the Warriors’ medical staff. Wiseman underwent extensive rehabilitation and was able to return to the court without any lingering effects from the injury.
Return
Wiseman is expected to make his return to the court on Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies. Wiseman is expected to be a key contributor for the Warriors this season and his return will be a huge boost to the team’s chances of making a deep playoff run.
Why Did James Wiseman Only Play 3 Games?
James Wiseman was a highly-touted recruit from Memphis East High School. He was declared a booster by the NCAA due to the prominent Memphis alumnus Penny Hardaway. Wiseman opted to play three games at the start of the 2019-20 season in defiance of the NCAA’s ruling.
He was then forced to sit out the remainder of the season due to his violation of NCAA rules. It was a costly decision, as Wiseman was suspended for 12 games and fined $11,500. The NCAA denied his waiver to be reinstated and his college career was put on hold.
This was an unfortunate situation, as Wiseman’s career was derailed due to an unfortunate booster ruling. The NCAA has since revised its rules to ensure that similar situations do not occur in the future.
Wiseman’s three-game stint was ultimately an unsuccessful attempt to defy the NCAA’s ruling. Despite the setback, Wiseman has since gone on to have a successful professional career with the Golden State Warriors.
To Recap
James Wiseman has all the talent in the world, but his inability to stay healthy and consistent has led to a disappointing start to his career. The Warriors are hoping that Wiseman can finally put his injuries behind him and live up to the expectations placed upon him when he was drafted.
But until he can stay healthy and consistently perform, Wiseman will continue to be a liability for the Warriors. Only time will tell if Wiseman can turn his career around, but for now, it appears that he is still a long way off from reaching his potential.
