Washington Wizards: NBA veterans have high praise for Rui Hachimura

Rui Hachimura is getting the attention of NBA players around the league for all the right reasons.

Rui Hachimura did not enter the NBA as the rookie with the most hype in his class. Although he’s had a good -no, great – rookie season with the Washington Wizards, he isn’t leading the Rookie of the Year conversations, either. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t caught the eye of many NBA fans, and even some NBA veterans.

During the Wizards’ loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Bradley Beal joined the television broadcast. Eventually, the conversation landed on Hachimura. Beal had nothing but good things to say.

Beal, who sees Hachimura more as a small forward than a power forward, claimed ‘the sky is the limit” thanks to Hachimura’s size, athleticism, ball-handling, and – and this was a shocker to hear – three-point shooting. Maybe Beal sees something in practice that we don’t.

Sure, hearing Hachimura’s teammate sing his praises on the team broadcast may ring a bit hollow. But Beal wasn’t the only one doing it.

Rui Hachimura keeps getting praise from NBA All-Stars and veterans.

Later that afternoon, former Washington Wizards and 13-year NBA veteran Jared Dudley gave Rui a shoutout.

Dudley, now with the Los Angeles Lakers, got to see what Hachimura can do when the two teams met earlier this season. Despite a 125-103 Wizards loss, Hachimura had one of the better games of his rookie season and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds on 7-15 shooting from the field.

Dudley isn’t the only Laker that’s been impressed by Hachimura. After their matchup, LeBron James called Hachimura “really good.” Caron Butler, who’s been a fan of Hachimura since his Gonzaga days, agrees.

Dudley wasn’t done heaping compliments on Hachimura, though. He, like Beal, sees Hachimura as a small forward. The “perfect” small forward, to be specific.

Jared Dudley, LeBron James, and Caron Butler not enough to convince you this kid might be the real deal? Maybe former teammate Isaiah Thomas’s opinion will do the trick. After spending the first few months of the season with the WIzards, Hachimura made a fan out of IT.

Hachimura might not have everything figured out. His three-point shot needs work. He’s shooting 27.4 percent from beyond the arc this season. His defense needs to improve. And he needs to avoid tunnel vision towards the hoop. But this type of praise from NBA vets has got to count for something.

And it is well deserved. Hachimura might not take home Rookie of the Year honors, but he’s deserving of an All-Rookie nod. Before entering the bubble, Hachimura ranked fifth among all first-year players in points per game (13.4) and first in rebounds per game (6.0).

Oh, and Beal agrees with Dudley, too.