Golden State Warriors rookie James Wiseman is officially ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his right knee. The 20-year-old tore his MCL versus the Houston Rockets last April 11. 

 

This is a huge blow for Wiseman, who has had an up-and-down season. Wiseman was amongst the few rookies who people had set expectations for simply because he was drafted by the Warriors—a team that has competed for championships over the past couple of years. Wiseman averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds this season. 

The second overall draft pick showed glimpses of his potential this season but it wasn’t consistent enough. In his defense, he came into the NBA with barely any experience in his college years. His debut in a Warriors jersey was one of his best games this season as he scored 19 points. Wiseman also had nine threes and dunked 40 times in his first month in the NBA.

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However, as Wiseman was more exposed to professional basketball, his lack of experience was evident. He often had defensive errors and was removed from the starting lineup. But surprisingly his best games happened when he came from the bench. The rookie scored 25 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves and had a double-double in 17 minutes against the Detroit Pistons. 

Wiseman also sprained his left risk early in the season which led him to miss 11 games. He also missed one COVID test that prevented him from getting enough playing time versus the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s extra pressure for Wiseman because he was constantly compared to rookies like LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards midway through the season. This injury is yet another adversity for the 20-year-old who went through a lot in his first year in the NBA.