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Wisemans first season with the Pacers will conclude with only one-quarter of playtime.
Wiseman, 23, exited the game Wednesday in the first quarter after suffering a non-contact injury. The Pacers later announced after the game that the fourth-year big man had been diagnosed with a torn left Achilles tendon. The former number-two pick in the 2020 draft has been plagued by injuries ever since the Golden State Warriors drafted him.
James Wiseman suffered an injury to his left Achilles tendon last night at Detroit.
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) October 24, 2024
An MRI taken earlier today confirmed that Wiseman tore his left Achilles tendon, and the team and Wiseman are working together to evaluate treatment options.
Learn more: https://t.co/2Hk9XALZyk pic.twitter.com/IXF0Mdbszu
Wiseman shot a three-point shot late in the first quarter and landed fine, but when he backpedaled after missing the shot, it seemed like he planted his foot awkwardly. After planting his foot, Wiseman looked to see if anyone had made contact with him, although no one was there.
Wiseman then went down at midcourt and struggled to walk off the floor. He hobbled off the floor with the help of teammate Obi Toppin. He immediately went to the Pacers locker room and was quickly ruled out with a calf injury, although most people know from the video that it was most likely a torn Achilles tendon.
James Wiseman goes down after a non-contact injury and will not return tonight
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 23, 2024
Hope he's okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/j97carLJeZ
This is Wiseman's third team throughout his young career. He started his career with the Warriors, where he played for two-plus years before he was dealt to the Pistons in February of 2023. Wiseman then played the rest of the 2022-23 season and the full 2023-24 season with the Pistons before signing with the Pacers this offseason on a veteran minimum contract.
Injuries and Wiseman have been hand in hand throughout his entire career. First, during Wiseman's rookie year, knee and wrist injuries held the rookie to only 39 games played. Wiseman then missed the entire 2021-22 season with a meniscus tear. This was the same year the Warriors went on to win the title.
Wiseman seemed to improve his health last season, playing a career-high 63 games for the Pistons. The lottery pick turned journeyman found his role as a backup big man, a role in which he flourished last season. When signing with the Pacers, that was going to be his role behind Myles Turner.
Now, a once auspicious career that has seen so much time lost to injuries will lose yet another season.
