Washington Wizards: 5 Best Games from Rui Hachimura’s Rookie Season

Game Score: 119-113 win over the Philadelphia 76ers
Game Stats: 43 Mins, 27 Points, 11-18 FG, 61 FG%, 1-3 3PT, 33.3 3PT%, 4-4 FT, 100 FT%, 7 Rebounds, 0 Assists, 0 Blocks, 2 Steals, 3 PF, 2 Turnovers, +1

Without a doubt, this was hands down Rui Hachimura’s best game of his rookie season. The +1 net rating does not do his play any justice in this game, to be honest. 43 minutes were the most minutes Hachimura played all season in a non-overtime game. The Wizards vs Sixers is usually always a good matchup. This game was no different.

Rui came out the gates firing against the Sixers. He finished the first half with 19 points, which was the most points he scored in a half all year. And he got it done with incredible efficiency. In the first half, he missed just four of 12 field goals and finished the game 11-18 from the field.

Hachimura loves to sprint the floor in transition after a missed shot for easy buckets. Against the Sixers, he also showed that he’s capable of grabbing a rebound and going coast to coast. At Gonzaga, Rui did not show this ability very often so the Wizards have to be ecstatic that he’s already showcasing this skillset at the next level.

All in all, it was somewhat of a disappointing year for the Washington Wizards after missing the playoffs for the second straight season. The Wizards finished the season 25-47. Even though they were invited to play in the bubble, they only won one of their eight games there. The season may not have been successful in terms of wins, but the development of the Wizards’ young players was crucial. Rui Hachimura’s growth, in particular, was great because he’s now considered as one of the cornerstones for this franchise’s future. As long as he continues to have that workhorse mentality, then he’ll eventually be the third star the Wizards need alongside Wall and Beal.

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