I remember watching James Wiseman dominate the court during his single season at Memphis, that rare combination of size and agility that had scouts calling him a generational talent. Fast forward to today, and the narrative has shifted dramatically. The question hanging over the basketball world right now is: Will James Wiseman's basketball career rebound after his recent struggles? Having followed his journey closely, I can't help but feel we're witnessing a critical inflection point in what could still become an extraordinary career.
Selected second overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2020 NBA draft, Wiseman entered the league with astronomical expectations. Standing 7 feet tall with a 7'6" wingspan and guard-like mobility, he seemed destined for stardom. Yet his rookie season was marred by injuries and inconsistency - he appeared in just 39 games, averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds. The numbers weren't terrible for a rookie, but they fell short of the franchise-altering impact expected from such a high draft pick. What struck me most during that season was how he often seemed out of sync with the Warriors' sophisticated system, like a powerful engine that hadn't been properly installed in the vehicle.
The real struggles began when injuries derailed his development. A torn meniscus in April 2021 required surgery and kept him out for his entire second season. Basketball development isn't linear, but missing crucial developmental years for a young big man can be particularly damaging. I've always believed that big men take longer to develop in today's NBA, but the league's patience for project players has significantly decreased in recent years. When he returned, the Warriors' championship timeline had accelerated, leaving little room for developmental minutes. His eventual trade to the Detroit Pistons felt inevitable, yet it represented a significant fall from grace for someone once compared to Chris Bosh and Anthony Davis.
Detroit offered a fresh start, but the production hasn't materialized yet. Through 45 games with the Pistons last season, he averaged 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in just over 18 minutes per game. The advanced metrics were even less kind - his -3.2 plus-minus was among the worst on a struggling team. Watching him play, I noticed he still struggles with defensive positioning and court awareness, often finding himself out of position for rebounds or slow to rotate on defense. These aren't physical limitations but rather the basketball IQ aspects that typically develop through consistent game experience - exactly what he missed during those injury-plagued seasons.
The recent comments from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson about the East Asia Super League caught my attention for how they might apply to Wiseman's situation. Hollis-Jefferson noted, "So understanding where guys thrive and how to put them in the best situations to be successful, I think, will help us in the EASL." This philosophy feels particularly relevant to Wiseman's career trajectory. The Warriors system, for all its strengths, might not have been the ideal environment for a developing big man. Golden State's motion offense and complex defensive schemes require quick decision-making that often comes with experience. Detroit offers more traditional big man opportunities, but the team's overall lack of structure presents different challenges.
I'm convinced that Wiseman's best path forward involves finding a system that simplifies the game for him. He shouldn't be making multiple reads on every possession at this stage. Instead, he needs a team that will leverage his clear strengths - rim running, offensive rebounding, and shot blocking - while minimizing his decision-making responsibilities. Think of what the Clippers did with DeAndre Jordan earlier in his career or how the Cavaliers used Tristan Thompson during their championship run. These players found success by mastering specific roles rather than being asked to do everything.
The physical tools remain undeniable. At his recent pro day, he measured with a 37-inch vertical leap - extraordinary for a player his size. He's shown flashes of the player he could become, like his 23-point, 7-rebound performance against San Antonio last March or his 20-point game against Toronto where he shot 9-of-11 from the field. These glimpses remind us why he was so highly touted coming out of college. The challenge has always been consistency, not capability.
Looking around the league, we've seen big men take unexpected development paths before. Jermaine O'Neal struggled for four years in Portland before blossoming into a six-time All-Star in Indiana. Chauncey Billups was labeled a bust before becoming Mr. Big Shot. What these players had in common was finding the right situation and coaching staff that believed in their development. I wonder if Wiseman needs that same kind of tailored environment rather than being thrown into the deep end of a rebuilding situation.
As I consider his future, I keep returning to that central question: Will James Wiseman's basketball career rebound after his recent struggles? My basketball instincts tell me yes, but with important caveats. He probably won't become the superstar once projected, but he can still develop into a quality starting center or high-level backup. The key will be his willingness to embrace a simplified role and the patience of an organization committed to his development. At just 22 years old, he's younger than several players in the recent draft, which means time remains on his side. The narrative around Wiseman feels prematurely pessimistic - we're often too quick to write off young players in today's instant-gratification NBA culture. His story is far from complete, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him become a valuable contributor on a playoff team within the next two seasons. The physical gifts that made him a top pick haven't disappeared; they're just waiting for the right system and development path to fully emerge.
