Wiseman likely to miss rest of the season
Rookie center injures meniscus in his right knee while trying to dunk vs. the Rockets on Saturday
Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman reportedly suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee and may miss the remainder of the season, dealing another injury blow to Golden State and its postseason hopes.
Wiseman injured his knee in the first half of Saturday night’s 125-109 victory over Houston and underwent an MRI that revealed the damage. This news organization confirmed a report from The
Athletic’s Shams Charania that the scans revealed serious knee damage.
Further consultation with doctors over the next few days will inform the Warriors’ plan of action and Wiseman’s timeline for return, a team spokesperson said.
The Warriors’ No. 2 overall pick in the draft, Wiseman had recently shown signs of a breakthrough before the injury. He had totaled 27 points on 18-for29 shooting and 17 rebounds over his final three games.
For Wiseman, this is yet another setback in a trying rookie
season. Fortunately it shouldn’t have a long-term effect on his development. Serious meniscus tears are relatively common in the NBA. Pelicans star Zion Williamson, for example, suffered a torn meniscus last season and is now playing at an All-Star level in his second season.
As Jeff Stotts of instreetclothes. com detailed, Wiseman’s return timeline will be determined by the level of surgery needed.
Either way, with only 19 games remaining it’s more than likely that Wiseman’s season is over — a tough break for the 20-year-old who appeared to be on the verge of a breakthrough.
Williamson’s meniscus injury did not derail his development, and the Warriors are hoping Wiseman can similarly bounce back.
As for Golden State’s playoff chances, losing Wiseman is a blow to its depth at center. Kevon Looney, who started 15 games this
season, will take over as the starting center. Juan Toscano-Anderson and Draymond Green will see minutes at the five in small-ball lineups.
Also, the Warriors have an open roster spot they can use to add another big man. They can also wait until Gary Payton II’s 10-day contract expires after April 17 to add a center and avoid additional luxury taxes.
While the Warriors can likely stay afloat without Wiseman — whose performance on defense can best be described as inconsistent— during this playoff push, adding a center would be prudent.