James Wiseman’s sophomore season has officially been wiped out.
The Warriors announced Friday that the 7-footer won’t be playing this season, including the playoffs, as he continue to rehab a torn meniscus in his right knee from April 2021. Wiseman made three rehab starts for the G League Santa Cruz Warriors from March 11 to March 15. This past weekend, The Athletic reported Wiseman suffered a setback with swelling in his knee.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr addressed the media just minutes after the team issued a press release confirming the bad news, which was initially reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
“Ultimately, very simple, we’re just protecting James’ future." Kerr said. “It makes the most sense to go this route. Again, I just feel terrible for James. He’s been through so much already in just two seasons. But his long-term health looks good, the knee looks sound. It’s just a decision we feel makes most sense for his own best interests and our best interests as well.”
For now, Wiseman will rehab in the Bay Area with Warriors director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini.
“It didn’t make sense to play him over the next couple of weeks,” Kerr said. “It’s structurally sound but he has swelling. In the name of being cautious, this is what we’re doing.”
It’s a sad coda to a frustrating 2021-22 campaign that could never get off the ground for Wiseman, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft. He initially appeared to be on track to return around the same time as Klay Thompson, but his rehab appeared to plateau in late 2021 as the Warriors repeatedly said he was close to contact.
Wiseman finally started scrimmaging at the All-Star break but his return to game action was short-lived, as his surgically-repaired knee couldn’t handle the rigors of three games in five days. Wiseman played about 21 minutes in each contest, averaging 17.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.
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In 39 games as a rookie, Wiseman averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 51.9 percent. The Warriors were holding out hope he could help boost the team’s undersized frontourt in the playoffs, but they’ll have to make do with Draymond Green, Kevon Looney and Nemanja Bjelica at center.
"I still feel really good about our roster and our situation at center,” Kerr said. “I feel fine about our depth there."
While many are quick to slap a ‘Greg Oden Bust’ label on the 20-year-old Wiseman, you have to remember that MVP candidate Joel Embiid only played 31 games his first three seasons in the league. There’s still plenty of time to see how Wiseman’s career shakes out.
As for the current situation, Bob Myers recently said the Warriors weren't in a good position to acquire another big man via trade or buyout this season.
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