In the recently concluded 2024 NBA Draft, the headlines were around the top 10 picks and Bronny James. Every year the same thing happens as the weight of expectations pile up on the rookies. Some make it to the grandest stage of basketball and others fizzle out. And sadly James Wiseman is heading towards the second category.

A startling fact of the draft is that more than half of the top draft picks do not remain in the NBA after a few seasons. For example, take the 2016 NBA Draft. You can take it up as a task to find out exactly how many are not in the league, but rest assured the number will be more than half of the first-rounders. James Wiseman went 2nd overall in 2020 but now he is on the verge of falling into the no man’s land.

After 2 injury-ravaged seasons, one NBA championship, and 6 starts in 63 games in 2024, James Wiseman will be on the hunt for his 3rd team in 4 years. According to Michael Scotto, the Piston are willing to make Wiseman a free agent on Sunday. Wiseman played his final year of the $39,619,840 contract and will become an unrestricted free agent. The Detroit franchise has declined to provide him a qualifying offer and the 22-year-old will now join the list of free agents.

But how did a second-overall pick’s fall from grace be so glaring? He never lacked the talent. Former NBA All-Star Penny Hardaway can vouch for him, who was Wiseman’s coach in high school. So how did it all come down to this?

Looking back at the decline of James Wiseman

McDonald’s All-American, Morgan Wootten National Player Of The Year, Gatorade National POTY all in 2019 should be enough to convince any franchise of the high ceiling of Wiseman. So it did as the Warriors drafted him 2nd overall in 2020. Anticipation was high on December 22, after news of Wiseman’s debut leaked. Meeting the high standards of the franchise, Wiseman dropped 19 points in his first NBA game in a 125-99 loss to the Nets. The rookie became a matter of pride for the fans to boast on social media. And that increased even further when he scored 25 points just after a month against the Timberwolves.

But the NBA is scripted they say. Even though we vehemently disagree with that theory, the script wrote its own story as Wiseman picked up a meniscus injury in April, rendering him unfit for the rest of the season. But just like a movie plot, there’s always up after a down. The path to recovery was difficult, but Wiseman made it and was cleared for action in March 2022. But then again, always remember a good movie script, time for another fall.

His rehab turned into a nightmare after he suffered a setback. In 18 months, he played his first game against the Wizards in the NBA’s Japan tour. Kristaps Porzingis found out Wiseman can fly as the rookie scored 20 points with 10 dunks. The Warriors fans though, their 2nd pick from two years prior finally will show his true colors. But in December injury came back like that one toxic ex everyone has. After that, he never played another game for the Warriors.

In February he was traded to the Pistons, a move that broke thousands of Warriors fans’ hearts. With 63 regular season games passing him by and an unwanted 14-68 record stamped on the resume, Wiseman is finally heading into free agency going into his 5th season in the league. A chance of scene and change of fortune might be exactly what Wiseman needs but more than that, he needs to stay injury-free.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what brand maker, Leonard Armato, had to say about the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe, check out this video