James Wiseman is getting another shot-this time, again, with the Indiana Pacers. The former No. 2 overall pick has signed a 10-day contract with Indiana, marking his third stint with the team since the 2024 offseason. For a player whose career has been defined as much by injuries as by potential, this opportunity may be one of the last meaningful chances to rewrite his NBA story.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Wiseman played just one game for the Pacers at the start of this season before being waived.
That brief appearance, followed by another setback, added to a growing list of challenges for the 24-year-old center. Through five seasons, he’s appeared in only 148 games-far below what anyone expected when he entered the league with sky-high projections.
But Indiana is giving him another look, and the timing might actually work in his favor. The Pacers are in the middle of a reset, sitting at 6-21 and near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
With Tyrese Haliburton still working his way back, the team is clearly focused on development and evaluation. That opens the door for Wiseman to prove he still belongs-and maybe more.
This isn’t just about a 10-day contract. It’s about whether Wiseman can finally stay healthy, contribute meaningfully, and show flashes of the player many thought he could become.
Injuries have played a brutal role in his journey. He missed his entire second season due to a knee injury, though that year ended on a high note with a championship ring as a member of the Golden State Warriors.
More recently, he tore his Achilles in his very first game with the Pacers earlier this year, just when it looked like he might be carving out a role.
Last season, Wiseman was traded to the Toronto Raptors at the deadline, only to be waived shortly after. He re-signed with Indiana in the summer, but didn’t make it through training camp. Now, with the Pacers again looking for answers at the five, he’s back in the mix.
Indiana’s center rotation has been a revolving door this season. Jay Huff has shown the most promise, averaging 8.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game.
But beyond Huff, the Pacers have cycled through Isaiah Jackson, Tony Bradley, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, still searching for a long-term solution. There’s been buzz about potential trade targets-Utah’s Walker Kessler among them-but until any deal materializes, there’s room for someone to step up.
And that’s where Wiseman comes in. At 6'11", with fluid athleticism and soft touch around the rim, the tools are still there.
What’s missing is consistency, health, and the ability to impact winning basketball. His best NBA stretch remains his rookie year with Golden State, where he averaged 11.5 points in 39 games.
Since then, it’s been a tough road.
This 10-day contract might not seem like much on paper, but for Wiseman, it’s a lifeline-and maybe the last one. If he can seize the moment, stay on the floor, and show he can help a team-even one in transition-he might just earn a longer look. If not, the league moves fast, and opportunities like this don’t come around forever.
The Pacers, for their part, made room by releasing forward Gabe McGlothan, also on a 10-day deal. It’s a small roster move in a long season, but for Wiseman, it could be the beginning of something bigger-or the final chapter in a career that’s been full of what-ifs.