While the Golden State Warriors battle the Boston Celtics for an NBA championship, James Wiseman is fighting another battle. One that he has been challenged by for well over a year but could be nearing the finish line.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft hasn’t played much since his high school days. Yes, Wiseman has been sidelined for most of his adult life, playing only three games in college, missing the Summer League due to a global pandemic and competing for just 39 games at the NBA level before suffering an injury in early 2021 that he is still looking to overcome.
During his brief time on the court, Wiseman averaged 11.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game. A disappointing rookie season but with such a small sample size, it is hard to make any judgments.
Good news for everybody, The Athletic has reported Wiseman is nearing a return to full-contact basketball and could be healthy enough to compete in the 2022 Las Vegas Summer League.
James Wiseman is nearing a return for the Golden State Warriors and could be ready to compete in the Las Vegas Summer League for the first time.
This is huge for Wiseman and the Warriors. His first opportunity to practice and spend an entire offseason with NBA-level training will benefit his shakey development. Competing in the Summer League, specifically, will help him get the ball rolling.
Wiseman remains one of the biggest x-factors in the league. Living up to pre-draft expectations as a shot-blocking, rim-running, floor-spacing center would put Wiseman into elite territory and thrust the Warriors even deeper into dynasty conversations.
Even with a humble outlook, Wiseman can be an incredibly impactful player as a seven-footer who can alleviate the Dubs’ lack of size.
But, he has to be healthy enough to play and experienced enough to hang with the pros. This summer could be a great first step towards getting Wiseman back into the mix.