Warriors' Former Lottery Pick Gets Closer to Doing the Unexpected With Pacers' Game 1 Win

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By JH Kubicek | Last updated Jun 7, 2025 11:11 AM ET

In the 2020 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors made one of the worst selections in NBA history, passing on LaMelo Ball, Devin Vassell, Tyrese Haliburton, Isaac Okoro, and Obi Toppin to select James Wiseman.

At the time, the Warriors were trying to kickstart their "two timelines," where they would win with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green while developing the next generation of players.

Wiseman ended up being a generational bust, and the Warriors' dynasty seems to be on its last legs.

In 60 games with Golden State over three different seasons, Wiseman averaged 9.9 points and five rebounds, but exhibited very little effort and promise to ever improve. He was traded to the Detroit Pistons in 2023 before signing a non-guaranteed, two-year deal this summer with the Indiana Pacers.

Just five minutes into his first game with the Pacers this season, he tore his Achilles, ending his year. He would later be traded to the Toronto Raptors and waived two days later.

While he doesn't have much individual success, he is one of five players in the 2020 draft class to win a title, joining Jordan Nwora, Xavier Tillman, Payton Pritchard, and Zeke Nnaji.

Wiseman won his ring in 2022 with the Warriors, in a season where he did not play due to a meniscus tear.

This season, with the Pacers leading the Oklahoma City Thunder 1-0 in the NBA Finals, Wiseman could be the first player in the draft class to win two titles. As a member of the team at any point in the season, Indiana could give him a ring for his contributions, however limited they may have been.

In his lone game before his injury this season, Wiseman scored six points and grabbed a rebound in five minutes against the Detroit Pistons.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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