Yes, I said it, Ian Mahinmi is for real. We’ve all been waiting eagerly to see if the hype surround him was coming to fruition and it has. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mahinmi has arrived.
Right now, Mahinmi has demonstrated to that the team that they won’t miss a beat if Dwight Howard misses some time with his back injury. He’s played exceptionally well and shown growth in every aspect of his game.
He’s taken every precaution necessary this offseason and preseason to show the Wizards that he can contribute to the team. He’s expanded his arsenal, which we have seen with his 3-point production. Not to mention, he’s lost 20 pounds this offseason to become a quicker and more well-rounded basketball player.
Mahinmi is being smart and effective with his shooting. In the past two games, Mahinmi shot .75% from the field and produced 22 total points. He’s also only missed one free-throw the entire preseason and gone 2-3 from the 3-point line.
Mahinmi has come to play and you can be certain that he’s the real deal. Of course Howard will be the starting center when he’s fully healthy, but the Wizards will be more than alright with Mahinmi holding down the fort until that time comes.