James Wiseman’s career definitely didn’t go as many predicted when the Golden State Warriors took him with the second overall pick in 2020. Instead of becoming the Warriors’ next star, he played only 60 games for the franchise and ended up being sent to the rebuilding Detroit Pistons after just two and a half seasons.
Wiseman himself knows that he failed to meet expectations with the Warriors but believes he can resurrect his career and live up to his potential with the Pistons. At the same time, he realizes that this won’t come overnight.
“I just got to take it one day at a time. I can’t be so hard on myself about anything, about trying to be good right now, all the instant gratification stuff,” he shared in a chat with ESPN. “Sometimes it comes into my mind, but I got to just look at it for what it is and be real with myself. It’s going to take time. It’s not going to be now. It’s going to be within time, it just takes time within the craft. I just got to keep working. That’s it.”
Wiseman struggled with injuries early in his career, missing the entire 2021-22 season due to a torn meniscus. When he was healthy, he seemed overwhelmed by the Warriors’ complex system and was often inconsistent on the floor.
With the Pistons, Wiseman looks in much better shape. He is playing a career-high 25.7 minutes per game and averaging 13.1 points and 8.5 boards per game.
