Indiana Pacers Center James Wiseman Suffers Torn Achilles in 2024-25 Season Opener

Indiana Pacers center James Wiseman suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in the opening game of the 2024-25 NBA season against the Detroit Pistons, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. In the report, he mentions that the team and Wiseman are both working together to determine treatment options, which tends to lean into surgery may not be needed. His treatment plan can be similar to New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers with a recovery time less than the traditional year-plus. However, that is still being determined.

James Wiseman signed as a free agent to a two-year, $4.78 million contract during the offseason with the 2025-26 season being a club option. Wiseman has not been able to be much of a force on the court as he played five minutes and recorded six points on one rebound in the season-opening game. Wiseman is on his third team in his five-year career after being drafted second overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2020 NBA draft. Since then, he has 148 games (55 starts) and is averaging 9.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.7 blocks, and 0.2 steals in 18.9 minutes per game.

It will be interesting to see what the Indiana Pacers do going forward as he and Myles Turner are the only centers on the roster. Expect to see Isaiah Jackson and Obi Toppin play backup five minutes going forward.