When James Wiseman got drafted second overall by the Warriors four years ago, he was projected to be a superstar. While he started his rookie year strong, things have not gone in his favor since then. After the Pistons renounced him earlier this year, the Center joined the Pacers on a two-year deal. And tonight was supposed to be a fresh start for him, as the hooper made his debut for his new team, ironically facing the Pistons. But Wiseman’s misfortune continued and he suffered an unfortunate injury just minutes into the game.

For the first five minutes of his debut, the former Warrior actually looked in great form and even scored 6 quick points. But then Wiseman took a three-point attempt from the top of the key and while back-pedaling to his side of the court, he suffered a non-contact leg injury. With a confused look, he immediately looked at the floor as if something was wrong.

Unfortunately, he was forced to leave the game following that incident and it was later revealed that he would not return because of a calf injury. We are yet to find out how severe it is. But a non-contact injury is always scary because it could be a possible tear. Well, the Pacers organization will have their fingers crossed and hope that their new recruit can return soon.

Jesse Morse, MD, a sports medicine physician, clarified two potential possibilities. “This is likely a left calf strain. It’s possible there’s involvement of the Achilles tendon, but usually the reaction is much more dramatic. There are two different types of calf, strains, gastrocnemius, as well as soleus. Grade 1’s range from 1-3 weeks. Grade 2’s range from 3-6 weeks”

While the hooper has not turned out to be the superstar that everyone expected, Pacers boss Rick Carlisle has high hopes for him, “In my view, he’s a great young prospect still.”

Yes, James Wiseman is only 23 and if he can turn things around, he could have a solid career ahead. And Carlisle loves what he has seen from the big man so far, “He’s had a great summer with our staff and with his teammates. He’s a great kid. When you stand next to him, you won’t believe how big he is. He’s really huge and has great wingspan and stuff like that.” Surely, the Pacer has the talent and frame to be a star in this league, but he has not been very fortunate in the health department.

Health has always been a concern for James Wiseman

Well, tonight is not the first time James has suffered a setback because of an injury. Yes, he had a great start to his career in the Bay Area. But then he missed more than half of his rookie season because of injuries. He was forced to sit out the entire following season because of a meniscus tear. While he did play his career-high 63 games last season, it is pretty clear that frequent injuries have derailed the youngster’s career.

However, the hooper’s new head coach is ready to look past his troublesome history, “We need to forget about where he was drafted, forget about the things that may or may not have happened along the way.” Even James Wiseman claimed that the hardships have only made him stronger: “This might sound crazy, but actually all the setbacks really made me stronger as a person. It built my character a lot as a person and also made me mentally stronger.” Hopefully, the hooper will maintain the same mindset after tonight’s unfortunate incident and return even stronger.