In what could best be portrayed as a veteran move, Rui Hachimura attempted to dodge doing a postgame media session by arguing that he was stressed over missing the Washington Wizards’ group trip away.
“I can’t be late,” he demanded, wearing a rust-shaded hoodie and a dark knapsack. “I’m a rookie.”
Indeed, that is valid, obviously. A newbie that is learning the methods for the NBA rapidly, be that as it may.
Hachimura, a 21-year-old from Japan, yielded and took a couple of inquiries Thursday night after his most recent in a progression of solid exhibitions, setting up a group high 27 points to assist Washington with astounding the Philadelphia 76ers and their assortment of stars, for example, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons by a score of 119-113.
“He’s like a seven- or eight-year vet. He just chips away at the game, every time. He’s a winner. He just plays the right way. He plays hard. He plays for his team. He’s not searching for stats. He just competes,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. “And he wants to get better. He knows he has a lot to learn and he’s a sponge out there. He wants to improve.”
The first-round draft select from Gonzaga played 42 1/2 minutes against Philadelphia, making 11 of 18 field-objective endeavors and including seven bounce back.
“I love when he plays with joy. I think that’s the most important thing, especially when you’re young. I’m guilty of that sometimes, too — you kind of get caught up in the emotion. It’s a hard season, man, for a young guy, who isn’t used to that … including me,” said 22-year-old partner Moe Wagner, a second-year expert himself.
“Today, you could just tell — he smiles, he has fun, even if he doesn’t make shots,” Wagner said. “That’s so much fun to play with, if you know your teammate enjoys playing. I’m proud of him.”
These days of investigation and analysis that announce 2-point jumpers dead and gone — long live the 3-pointer! — Hachimura considers somewhat of a return.
“His bread-and-butter is a 17-, 18-foot shot, and he was taking ’em,” Brooks said, “and he’s going to make most of those when he’s wide open.”
Or then again as Wagner put it: “That little mid-range jumper is really hard to guard.”
Hachimura, recorded at 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, entered the game averaging 13.4 focuses and 5.6 bounce back and offers flexibility by playing some advance and some middle on a Wizards group that is managed what’s appeared to be another damage each day while beginning the season with a 7-13 record.
“This is my first year and I don’t know anything about the NBA yet,” Hachimura said. “So I’ve just got to play hard.”
He thinks his most prominent steps have been in figuring out how to acclimate to the dividing in the class, so unique in relation to the school game, and discovering his spots to get shots.
The chemistry with colleagues is tagging along.
Hachimura draws acclaim from Brooks for modifying in different manners.
One model at the defensive end: He’s less defenseless to succumbing to opponents’ shot fakes.
“He’s good now, as a young player. When you’re a young player, everything is coming at you so fast. And you’re learning so many things on the fly,” Brooks said. “And he’s going to improve. His basketball IQ is high, but it’s going to get better, just through all the experience.”
A journalist needed to know whether Hachimura — who scored 30 of every a misfortune a weekend ago — considered the triumph against the Sixers his best game with the Wizards up until this point.
“I don’t know,” he said. “We won the game, so that’s all that matters.”
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Truth Classified journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
