ATLANTA — James Wiseman has been ruled out for the season after he experienced a second setback last week in his recovery from a knee injury, the team announced Friday.
In a statement, Warriors general manager Bob Myers said the team is going to remain patient with Wiseman’s recovery.
“We’ve maintained throughout his entire rehabilitation process that we’re going to be patient and look out for James’ best interests in what we anticipate to be a long and successful career,” Myers said. “As a 20-year-old, his entire career is ahead of him. For us, as an organization, our focus is on James’ long-term health and we’re confident — and our doctors are confident — that this long-term approach will help James become the player we believe he will evolve into when he returns to the court.”
The news comes less than a week after the Warriors decided to “pause” Wiseman’s rehab process due to swelling in his right knee.
Coach Steve Kerr said he learned of the swelling last Friday.
“I feel terrible for James,” Kerr said last week. “The hope was that he would play tomorrow in Santa Cruz — that’s not going to happen. I will just keep going back to the fact that he’s 20 years old, and he’s got his whole future ahead. We just have to be really, really cautious. We’ve got to do what’s best for him long term.”
It’s been a frustrating 11 months for the second overall pick of the 2020 NBA draft.
Wiseman played only 39 games last season — averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds — before he underwent season-ending surgery in April to repair a torn right meniscus. After months of rehabbing, it appeared Wiseman was progressing to make a return this winter. But when swelling flared up in his surgically-repaired knee, the 20-year-old had to have a second arthroscopic knee surgery.
What the Warriors have in Wiseman remains a mystery. He’s played in only 45 games over the last three seasons with Memphis, the Warriors and the team’s G League affiliate. And he had mixed performances in his most recent games with the Santa Cruz Warriors. It’s still unclear how he’ll adjust to the speed and physicality of the NBA when he returns.
For now, the Warriors will have to continue to play the waiting game with Wiseman.
