by When the Indiana Pacers signed center James Wiseman to a two-year, partially guaranteed $4.8 million contract this offseason, there weren’t too many expectations for his arrival. The Memphis alum initially joined the NBA after the Golden State Warriors drafted him second overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Since then, Wiseman has not made an impact in the league.
Wiseman is on his third team after a lackluster stint with the Detroit Pistons. This season is already considered potentially the biggest defeat of the 2020s and is crucial for Wiseman’s career. However, after two games in the preseason so far, the big man not only looks like a rejuvenated player, but could also be the steal of the offseason.
Wiseman’s first game as a Pacer came in the team’s season opener against the Atlanta Hawks. In the loss, Wiseman started the game in place of Myles Turner, who was dealing with a minor knee injury. Wiseman played 16 minutes and scored eight points on a perfect 4-for-4 game from the field. He also recorded four rebounds.
While his stats were decent on their own, Wiseman’s ability to keep up with the Pacers’ fast-paced offense was an incredibly welcome sign. Although he may have had a disappointing start to his NBA career, Wiseman was always very athletic and possessed great size as a 7’0″ center. In his first game, he showed exactly how he could use this to revive his career with the Pacers.
Furthermore, after an impressive debut for the Pacers, the former NBA champion turned in an even more impressive performance. In Thursday’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wiseman moved to the bench in favor of a returning Turner. Despite having a smaller role on paper, Wiseman performed well during his time on the court.
In just 11 minutes off the bench, Wiseman scored eight points on 4-for-6 shooting and 10 rebounds. To put that in perspective, Turner scored 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting, three rebounds and two assists. Additionally, backup center Isaiah Jackson recorded two points on 1-for-3 shooting, three rebounds, three blocks and one assist in 10 minutes.
It’s likely the Pacers will find a way to utilize both Wiseman and Jackson this season since they both have unique skill sets. However, members of the Wiseman fan club should be happy with what they’ve seen from him so far.
Yes, it’s just preseason, but that doesn’t make Wiseman’s performances any less promising. He doesn’t look flawless, especially on defense, but he’s proven he can help the Pacers win right away. And considering how cheap his contract is, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about what he can continue to bring to the team.
