From high school to college, Tennessee native James Wiseman had all analysts say only good things about him. He was a consensus five-star recruit out of HS and in college (as rocky as it was); he was projected to be a No. 1 pick. Of course, we know that the 2020 NBA Draft was the turning point for the Wolves as they selected Anthony Edwards as the first pick. But Wiseman didn’t have to wait long as the Warriors jumped at the chance, picking him at No. 2.

Unfortunately, the success from his early years didn’t exactly translate to the expectation the Warriors set for the 7-foot, then-19-year-old. More on that later. But it seems like James Wiseman might just see a possible career resurrection with the Pacers after all!

And the fans are all for it! Take, for instance, what a netizen said about watching Wiseman dominate the floor in a Pacers jersey. “Kind of surreal to see this guy in the blue and gold,” they wrote on X. In his preseason debut, the absence of starting center Myles Turner had gotten him the nod to start. And while he struggled from the charity stripe (0-of-3), in 16 minutes of game time, Wiseman scored 8 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field. Not to mention, a +7 for the team.

And as for his time with the Warriors, it’s actually really sad, come to think of it. A combination of injuries and the lack of an immediate impact (the kind the Dubs hoped for) led to the bust of the Wiseman experiment.

However, the Memphis alum had a strong rookie season, averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds on 51.9% shooting, albeit in 39 games. While his field goal percentage had improved in the second season (62.8%), a setback in rehab from his meniscus injury the previous year cut his season short.

However, his performance with the Pacers has many believing that he could, in fact, make a splendid return.

James Wiseman with Indiana has fans anticipating great things for the hooper

Wiseman has clearly turned many Pacers fans into believers. Take this user, for example. “I’m not one to jump the gun, but if what I saw from James Wiseman tonight was legit, the Pacers may have resurrected another career from the 2020 draft class.”

The Pacers have a culture that fosters growth. And for a player like James Wiseman with impressive skills, who never really got a chance to develop them, Indiana could very well be THE place for a career revival.

Domantas Sabonis had an underwhelming rookie season with OKC, despite the Thunder looking forward to seeing him blossom as a role player to their liking. But after he was traded to the Pacers in the Paul George trade in 2017, the Lithuanian center saw a development in his offensive game, passing, and rebounding, as well as receiving the All-Star nod twice in his time there.

Now we know who Domantas Sabonis is and what he can do. So, James Wiseman has all the advantages to make a case for himself if he so wishes. Moving on, this user kept it sweet and simple. “He’s a star.” The next user had a thought along similar lines as he congratulated the Pacers for making the move. “He’s a perfect fit for this team. Incredible signing for him and pacers.”

And finally, this individual has seen everything he needs to be an official fan of Wiseman. “Two preseason games into the James Wiseman as a Pacer experience and I’m a fan,” he said. Quite the wise move indeed!

So, in all fairness, Wiseman might not reach the levels people assumed he would back in 2020. However, along with so many fans, the youngster also seems to have ‘a believer’ in Rick Carlisle. “In my view, he’s a great young prospect still,” the head coach said. “We need to forget about where he was drafted, forget about the things that may or may not have happened along the way. He’s had a great summer with our staff and with his teammates. He’s a great kid.”

Sounds like quite a positive review, doesn’t it? Well, what about you lot? Think James Wiseman might be a late bloomer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

 Hungry for more basketball content? Do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.