When the Washington Wizards selected Rui Hachimura 9th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, fans weren’t universally praising the move. But fast-forwarding eight months and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in the District with a bad thing to say about the rookie.
One of the most impressive parts of Hachimura’s game has been his fearless, almost brash, confidence. The 22-year old never seems rattled, and always seems ready for a challenge. His bullish balling has led to some hot starts, and he’s only been more impressive since returning from injury.
But while it looks like the game slowed down for Hachimura during his 23-game absence that had him sidelined for most of December and all of January, a new development has soured his somewhat sensational return.