Early in the 2020-21 regular season, as he described the factors behind why New Orleans has become an elite rebounding team, personnel was at the top of Pelicans reserve Willy Hernangomez’s list.
“We have beasts out there rebounding the ball,” Hernangomez said, prior to a home game vs. Charlotte, his previous NBA team. “Steven (Adams), Zion (Williamson), Josh (Hart), Jaxson (Hayes). We just try to compete and fight. We want to keep using that and keep attacking the paint.”
Hernangomez wasn’t playing much at the time – he logged a total of just 12 minutes in the first 18 games of the regular season – but the 6-foot-11 center matter-of-factly added, “I’m going to rebound the ball when my chance comes.