When talking about top rookies in the NBA, Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura deserves to be the topic of a lot of conversation. Through eight games, he's averaging 13.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game on 49.0% shooting from the field, 25.0% shooting from 3-point range, and 87.5% shooting from the foul line.
Picked 9th in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga, Hachimura hoped to put his native country of Japan on the map and help make basketball more popular in the country. Judging by how he's playing, he appears to be on track to do just that.
Given the uncertainty of the Wizards' future due to John Wall's health (torn left Achilles), it's huge for them to have such a talented rookie in Hachimura. They know they have someone they can build around for the future and that has to give them a ton of comfort.
Hachimura is by no means a finished product, but there's a lot to like about his game. For starters, he's learning how to score. A lot of rookies, even ones who go on to be hall of famers, have a tough time scoring during their first few years in the league. Hachimura is already putting up double figures and adjusting well to the NBA speed. As an extension of his scoring, he's knocking down his free throws and appears to have a lot of confidence in his shot. Many big men never figure out how to make free throws and Hachimura is already shooting his foul shots like he's a guard!
In addition to scoring well, Hachimura is rebounding the ball well and showing that he can bang in the post with NBA level bigs. He's not afraid to go inside and hold his own. When it comes to physicality, this appears to be a strength of his as well.
Overall, the Wizards have to like what they see in Rui Hachimura thus far. He's scoring, rebounding, and appears eager to be the face of their franchise along with the face of an entire country. If he continues on the path he's on, they have a star to build around for the coming decade.
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