ESPN Reporter Makes Blunt James Wiseman Statement

James Wiseman arrived in the NBA with a lot of hype as a future All-Star.

The Golden State Warriors selected Wiseman with the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

However, the 23-year-old had a slow start to his career and the Warriors traded him midway through the 2022-23 season.

Recently, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps made a blunt statement about Wiseman (via Brian Windhorst and the Hoop Collective).

Bontemps: “At the time, there was talk that they might consider Tyrese Haliburton with that pick. They certainly should have. They should have gone in any direction except James Wiseman, who was a failure of pretty epic proportions. Part of it is his fault. Part of it is not.”

The Warriors had the rare fortune of having a roster that included Hall of Famers Draymond Green, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson (while also having the second overall pick).

That said, they missed the opportunity to draft a future franchise pillar.

Other options included 2022 NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball and Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton.

Wiseman played three seasons in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons and Golden State Warriors.

His career averages are 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 56.0 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from three-point range in 147 games.

During the offseason, Wiseman signed with the Indiana Pacers.

By ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on July 2:”Free agent center James Wiseman has agreed to a two-year contract with the Indiana Pacers, sources tell ESPN. Wiseman was the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft.”