James Wiseman, the 2020 NBA No. 2 pick, is set to continue his career in Europe

After a stop-start NBA run shaped by injuries and limited runway, the center’s next chapter moves overseas as his agent declares he will play in Europe.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

James Wiseman, the Golden State Warriors’ 2020 NBA draft pick who went No. 2 overall, is expected to leave the NBA and continue his basketball career in Europe, according to reporting that cites his agent’s declaration. The move closes another chapter in an NBA tenure that was repeatedly interrupted before Wiseman could settle into a consistent rotation role.

Wiseman’s path from prospect to NBA player began with a steep spotlight. He was drafted in December 2020 and, even before he could fully establish his rhythm, he dealt with COVID-related disruption during his early development window. From there, the setbacks accumulated, including a wrist injury that caused him to miss time and a meniscus tear near the end of his rookie season that led to him missing a full sophomore year.

The pattern of limited availability continued even after Wiseman’s teams changed around him. He later spent time with the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers, and his stint in Indiana was again derailed by an Achilles tendon tear, which forced him to miss the rest of that season. Across his NBA career, Wiseman appeared in 152 regular-season games and averaged 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.7 blocks, shooting 56.0% from the field, according to BasketNews.

BasketNews also points to flashes of effectiveness that came when Wiseman had more floor time, particularly during the stretch with Detroit. In 24 games during the 2022-23 season with the Pistons, he averaged 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds. In the following season, he played 63 games and averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per contest. The production was not enough to fully offset the injuries and missed seasons, but it showed the ceiling the Warriors and other teams hoped would translate into a longer, more stable role.

Warriors context is important to understanding why this is notable. Wiseman entered the league as an elite big-man prospect, and his selection quickly became part of Golden State’s broader “development” posture around unexpected lottery outcomes during that era. When injuries repeatedly reduced his opportunities to play through growth pains, the franchise never received the steady returns it had been betting on, and Wiseman’s departure underscores how quickly roster plans can change when availability becomes the limiting factor.

As Wiseman turns toward Europe, the immediate question is what kind of opportunity he will land. Overseas leagues often offer a larger role and more consistent minutes than a typical NBA fringe big-men rotation, but the exact landing spot is not yet specified in the reporting. What to watch next is whether Wiseman’s next team will emphasize him as a primary frontcourt finisher, a rim-protector in a half-court defensive scheme, or a rotational big depending on style and depth chart.

For the Warriors and the NBA more broadly, the story also serves as a reminder that draft status does not guarantee development. Wiseman’s career arc has been shaped as much by timing and health as by skill. Whether his talent can reassert itself in Europe will determine how this move is ultimately judged: as a detour forced by circumstances, or as the restart that finally unlocks what made him a top pick in the first place.

Why It Matters

Wiseman leaving the NBA alters the picture for how top-end big-man prospects can be valued, especially when early availability repeatedly collapses development timelines.
For the Warriors, the move is another marker of how their 2020s roster-building decisions have been affected by injuries and the unpredictable outcomes of young-player development.
For the Pistons and Pacers, it reduces a player whose best NBA stretches demonstrated he could be productive when given meaningful minutes.
For European competition, Wiseman’s athletic profile and draft pedigree could raise the quality and attention around specific frontcourt matchups, depending on where he signs.
Wiseman’s case will be watched as a potential template for whether a structured overseas opportunity can restore career momentum after a disrupted NBA run.

Sources

Key Facts

James Wiseman, the Golden State Warriors’ No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, is expected to continue his career in Europe, with reporting citing his agent’s declaration.
Wiseman’s early NBA development was disrupted by COVID-related absence and multiple injuries, including a wrist injury and a meniscus tear near the end of his rookie season.
He missed the entirety of his sophomore season following the meniscus injury, and later dealt with further time away from the floor, including an Achilles tendon tear.
BasketNews reports Wiseman played 152 NBA regular-season games and averaged 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Wiseman’s more productive stretches included time with the Detroit Pistons, including 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in 24 games during the 2022-23 season and averages of 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds over 63 games in 2023-24.
The reporting does not specify which European team or league Wiseman will join.