⏩ Wiseman injury: How others have handled similar injuries.
Sunday’s news that Warriors center James Wiseman has suffered a tear to the meniscus of his right knee raised some key questions: Is he done for the season? Does he still have a chance to become an AllStarcaliber player?
Further examination with doctors is needed to determine the severity of Wiseman’s injury, a recovery plan and a timeline for his return. As the Warriors wait to learn more details, they can take solace in the fact that most athletes with meniscal injuries make a full recovery within a couple of months.
According to a 2012 study by the American Journal of Sports Medicine, 129 NBA players with meniscus tears over a 21year span missed an average of 40 days. Research showed no statistical change in most injured players’ efficiency ratings once they returned to the court.
“A lot of James’ situation will depend on the severity of the injury,” said Dr. Brian Schulz, a sportsmedicine specialist at CedarsSinai KerlanJobe Institute in Los Angeles. “But if it’s one of the most common kinds of meniscus tears, it’s a pretty quick turnaround afterward and not something that should affect his career.”
The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber for the knee joint. If the meniscus injury is treated without surgery or just by shaving out the damaged part, players tend to return in about four weeks. Athletes who require surgery, however, can need several months to come back.
Regardless of whether Wiseman undergoes a procedure, he’ll likely miss the rest of the season. After Monday night’s matchup against Denver at Chase Center, the Warriors have 18 games left. Though they’d like to give him more experience in highstakes games, they’re going to be cautious with their most important young player.
This is someone whose development is a big factor in whether Golden State will maximize the rest of its core’s prime and transition smoothly into the postStephen Curry era.
As Golden State prepares to hear more about Wiseman’s torn meniscus, it might want to look at how some other NBA players have handled similar injuries. Here are six recent examples:
AlFarouq Aminu: While with the Magic in December 2019, Aminu suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee. A setback in his recovery forced him to undergo a minor arthroscopic procedure that sidelined him the rest of the 201920 season. In 18 games this season through Sunday, Aminu, 30, was averaging 5.3 points and 5.3 rebounds — below his career averages of 7.6 and 6, respectively.
Jimmy Butler: While with the Timberwolves in February 2018, Butler underwent surgery on the meniscus in his right knee. He sat out six weeks before returning in time for a playoff push. In the three years since then, Butler has continued to establish himself as one of the league’s best twoway players, leading the Heat to a surprising Finals appearance last season.
Kristaps Porzingis: He underwent surgery in October 2020 to repair a lateral meniscus injury he suffered with the Mavericks in the previous playoffs. After sitting out Dallas’ first nine games, Porzingis returned to the lineup in mid-January. His pergame averages of 20.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists through Sunday are all better than his career numbers.
Derrick Rose: He has had several meniscus injuries in his career, with the most recent coming while with the Knicks in March 2017. After missing the final eight games of that 201617 season, he played briefly for the Cavaliers before enjoying a career renaissance with the Timberwolves and Pistons. Now back on the Knicks, Rose, 32, had averaged 12.2 points, 3.8 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 18 games with his new team through Sunday.
Russell Westbrook: While with the Thunder in the first round of the 2013 Western Conference playoffs, Westbrook suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee. He underwent surgery that sidelined him the rest of the playoffs and most of the summer. The injury hardly derailed Westbrook, who has since led the league in scoring twice and won an MVP award.
Zion Williamson: After suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee during an October 2019 preseason game, Williamson — then a rookie — missed nine weeks to rehab. Now, at just 20, he is already one of the NBA’s most dominant players. In 72 career games through Sunday, he had averaged 25.3 points on 60.9% shooting (38.5% from 3point range), 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists.