NBA: Ranking 30 best power forwards for 2019-20

The NBA’s first first-round draft pick from Japan, Rui Hachimura was taken ninth overall by the Washington Wizards back in June and the Gonzaga product looks to have the inside track over newly acquired Moritz Wagner to start at the 4 from Day 1.

Hachimura is coming off a three-year stint at Gonzaga that was marked by huge year-to-year jumps, from 2.6 points in 4.6 minutes per game as a member of the same freshman class as Portland Trail Blazers big man Zach Collins to 19.7 points and 6.5 boards in 30.2 minutes per game last season.

While some were scoffing at Washington being as high as it was on Hachimura, the 6-foot-8, 230-pound 21-year-old turned some heads in his three appearances for the Wizards in the Las Vegas Summer League.

He averaged 19.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 31.6 minutes per game, shooting 50 percent overall while going 2-for-6 from deep and hitting 14-of-16 at the foul line.

That’s not to say there won’t be some growing pains once Hachimura starts going up against teams full of actual NBA players on a nightly basis and doing it for a Wizards roster that is in a state of flux could lead to inconsistency.

As an NBA player, Hachimura will have to become less mechanical and more instinctive in his movements on the court, something that came up during the Draft Combine and on some possessions in Summer League, particularly on the defensive end, as he’s still adjusting to the North American style of play.

But being with a rebuilding team will afford Hachimura minutes and opportunities to grow.