James Wiseman was spotted in Boston recently working out and doing non-contact shooting drills at TD Garden. Though the 20-year-old’s second season has been completely wiped out due to injury, he’s still trying to get as much as he can out of his Finals experience.
It turns out he also underwent another previously unannounced procedure on his troublesome right knee, according to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania on Monday:
“Wiseman underwent an orthobiologic injection during a multiday trip to London with Warriors general manager Bob Myers in April, multiple sources told The Athletic, as both sides worked to find a way to promote healing in the knee,” Slater and Charania wrote. “The plasma-rich injection in Wiseman’s arm was a therapeutic treatment used to increase healing throughout the body.”
PRP injections have become a familiar treatment in sports and it seems like the Warriors are just doing their due diligence to get Wiseman back on the court. The Athletic also reported that Wiseman is “nearing contact again” and his status for NBA Summer League should be determined in the next two weeks.
For now, the Warriors are knee-deep in the Finals, with Game 5 coming up Monday night at Chase Center. Kerr said it’s been huge for Wiseman and 2021 first-rounders Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody get to see the franchise in Finals mode.
“For them to feel this, to experience the preparation that goes into the playoffs, it’s so different from the regular season,” Kerr said. “The amount of focus on your opponent. Just the different vibe in the arena. It’s really crucial for those guys to feel it. … To go through it, especially with the veteran mentors they have on the team to guide them, just massive experience for them that will pay off big-time down the road.”
We’ve been down this path with Wiseman before, as he has hit multiple setbacks since tearing the MCL in his right knee on April 10, 2021 while landing on a dunk attempt. Wiseman started “ramping up” his activity as far back as November of last year before requiring another cleanup procedure in December. Wiseman appeared in three games with the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League in March before being shut down for the season.
It might feel like an eternity since we’ve seen Wiseman on a court. In today’s age of instant gratification, many have been quick to label him a bust, but there’s still plenty of time for the young center to prove himself and carve out a long NBA career. The No. 2 overall pick in 2020 showed some undeniable talent during his 39-game rookie season that was marred by NBA’s health and safety protocols, and a left wrist sprain.
Wiseman is 14 months deep into his recovery at this point. Jaren Jackson Jr.’s recovery from a similar injury took eight months, but the 22-year-old played 90 games this season for the Memphis Grizzlies when you include postseason play. Joel Embiid only played 31 games his first three NBA seasons before becoming a perennial MVP candidate.
“It’s all in the mental,” Wiseman said in May. “And also, that’s in my DNA. So I’m not gonna ever give up no matter how hard it gets. I ain’t never giving up.”
The optimist can envision Wiseman part of a young 22-and-under nucleus that features Jordan Poole, Kuminga and Moody. The Warriors could have used his shot-blocking, rim presence and dunking abilities all season long. Kevon Looney can’t play 82 games every season, so the sooner Wiseman is back, the better for the Warriors.
