INDIANAPOLIS — James Wiseman’s tenure with the Indiana Pacers has gotten off to an unfortunate start.
The #2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft – who signed a contract with Indiana over the offseason – went down in the first quarter of Wednesday night’s season opener against his former team in Detroit. On Thursday, Pacers officials confirmed Wiseman has torn his left Achilles tendon.
After taking a shot from the top of the three-point arch, Wiseman landed funny and immediately looked back at his left calf as if another player had kicked him. However, no one was near the 7-footer and it turned out to be a non-contact injury – a warning sign of an Achilles tear.
“An MRI taken earlier today confirmed that Wiseman tore his left Achilles tendon, and the team and Wiseman are working together to evaluate treatment options,” the Pacers posted on social media Thursday afternoon.
Wiseman looked good in his Pacers debut up until getting injured, putting up six points and a rebound on 50% shooting in just five minutes of action. The Pacers went on to defeat the Pistons 115-109 after a big fourth-quarter comeback.
The Pacers signed Wiseman to a two-year, $4,784,366 contract in July. $500,000 of the contract is guaranteed.
ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first reporter to break the news on Wiseman’s injury. No other information has been provided by the Pacers.