Pacers Lose James Wiseman To Left Achilles Tendon Tear
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Pacers lose James Wiseman to left Achilles tendon tear
The Indiana Pacers’ fear Wednesday evening has been confirmed: 23-year-old center James Wiseman suffered a torn left Achilles tendon.
The injury occurred with just over a minute left in the first quarter of the Pacers’ season-opening win in Detroit. He traveled with the team to New York City after the game. The team then announced the news Thursday afternoon after the worst was confirmed from an MRI scan.
It’s not immediately clear if it is a complete tear, which would be a season-ending injury. “The team and Wiseman are working together to evaluate treatment options,” the Pacers said.
With Isaiah Jackson unavailable in Detroit, Wiseman played behind Myles Turner and scored six points in less than five minutes. But late in the opening period, he clutched the back of his left foot after suffering a non-contact injury; never a good sign.
Wiseman was immediately uneasy. He limped to the bench, then went directly back to the locker room and didn’t appear to return.
Wiseman, the second overall pick in 2020 by the Warriors, was hoping for a fresh start in Indy and he showed promise in the preseason. He was signed to a non-guaranteed contract, which represented a low risk and high reward for the team.
He was brought in to help fill the void after Jalen Smith left for the Chicago Bulls in free agency. And he was slated to be the third-string center. Wiseman fit in well with the Pacers’ style of play — running the floor, playing with pace, and getting good looks at the rim.
Standing 7-foot tall, he’s a productive rebounder who added some much-needed size to the frontcourt.
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“I’ve always been a fan of James,” Turner said on media day. “I feel like he’s someone who passed the eye test. He’s huge. He’s all of 7-1. Very long, very athletic, and has all the intangibles. And I have spent time with him.
“Him and Isaiah Jackson, they came to Dallas for a few days and we worked out together down there. And James is just someone who needs an opportunity. I feel like once he gets the opportunity that he’s been looking for, he’s going to take it and run with it. He’s someone that I’m personally going to be around, I’m going to be in his ear. It’s genuinely because I want to see him succeed.”
“… I’ve only known him for a couple months, but I really do feel like he’s someone that can help us. And once he puts it all together, he’s going to be dangerous.”
Scott Agness is in his 13th season as a beat writer covering the Indiana Pacers. Click here to read more of his work at FieldhouseFiles.com.