James Wiseman is the Indiana Pacers’ most notable free agent addition this offseason. The big man and former second overall pick joined the blue and gold after spending time with the Detroit Pistons, and he adds depth to the Pacers’ frontcourt.
When Jalen Smith left the Pacers for the Chicago Bulls, Indiana needed a third big man. They drafted Wiseman, who they hope can be another developmental success story in the Circle City. The Memphis product chose the Pacers in large part for that reason.
“Definitely a place where I could thrive. I’m just trying to be the best version of myself. I mean, Indiana is a great place for that,” Wiseman said Pacers on SI of his decision to sign with the blue and gold.
The 23-year-old is still trying to establish himself in the NBA, but he has a clear set of traits and skills that make him unique among his peers. If all goes well this year, Wiseman could be a valuable reserve — Myles Turner thinks Wiseman can help Pacers bounce backFor example.
It’s a wise observation. Wiseman is 7’4″ and fast. Those qualities make him a monster on the rebound. His 17.2 percent rebounding percentage would have been among the NBA’s top 20 last season if the big man had played enough minutes to qualify for the leaderboards (and if he had maintained that number in more opportunities). According to NBA tracking dataWiseman grabbed more than two contested rebounds per game last season.
“We have to be a better rebounding team. We’re still a little small… We just got [James] Wiseman, that helps a little bit,” Turner said.
Wiseman’s list of skills extends well beyond the racquet, although that’s the main focus. With his size and agility, a lot is possible, and his unique touch as a lefty gives him an advantage in the racquet.
That’s where the Tennessee native does the most damage. Last season, nearly 88 percent of Wiseman’s shot attempts came from within 10 feet, and more than half of those came from within 3 feet. He loves to punish opponents around the basket.
According to league tracking data, Wiseman made 75 percent of his shots from within 5 feet last season. That percentage increased when considering shots taken in the restricted area. Big, strong players are hard to slow down when they have a window to shoot in the paint.
James Wiseman scores against smaller players in the paint: pic.twitter.com/Yy8pLqxOB8
— Tony East (@TonyREast) August 21, 2024
Last season, a large portion of Wiseman’s shot attempts were dunks. More than 43 percent of the big man’s shots were on the hoop last season, and they accounted for more than 25 percent of his total shot attempts. That’s an impressive ratio, and a testament to Wiseman’s power.
That volume is extremely remarkable. The NBA champion was in the top 30 among all players in total dunks in 2023-24, but he played fewer minutes than any player ahead of him on this list of total dunks. Wiseman played 1,091 minutes last season — he joined Trayce Jackson-Davis and Dereck Lively II as the only players in the top 30 in dunks with fewer than 1,300 minutes in 2023-24.
Offensively, the zoom out on Wiseman’s game is obvious. Give him an up-close advantage and he’ll make things happen. The details of his game are also interesting, and one stat in particular stands out.
Wiseman is quick for someone his size, and he finished in the 99.2 percentile among all players in transition opportunities last season, according to the NBAOn the open court, he shot 83.8 percent and averaged 1.6 points per possession.
The Pacers had the third highest transition frequency in the association last year. If they can continue to get out and run when Wiseman is on the field, he could be a good fit. The 2020 second-round pick also excels statistically in a few other key offensive play types, including post-ups (82.1 percentile) and putbacks (78.5 percentile). If Wiseman has a smaller man connected to him, he needs to be found — especially when he makes quick decisions.
On defense, Wiseman’s skills are mixed, but his size matters when engaged. If the new Pacer contests a shot, he makes it difficult for the other team to score – the NBA Defensive Tracking Data He says Wiseman made his opponent miss more often than usual on almost every type of shot last season.
There are times when Wiseman doesn’t even have a chance and his team’s defense is limited. On offense, he doesn’t have much range and loses the ball too much. He can have tunnel vision.
But a player his size is imposing, and he can help Indiana perform at its best in a number of ways. Wiseman may have to fight for playing time, but the model for his success when he hits the floor is dominating down low and staying engaged defensively.
