3 silver linings to a lost Washington Wizards season

Strong year one

Among the top of any list of Washington’s best moments, the entirety of Rui Hachimura‘s rookie year should excite any and all Wizards fans. In 41 games the 22-year-old posted 13.4 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.

Despite missing 18 games, although some were likely just to Washington’s caution, Hachimura has had some very memorable moments in his inaugural NBA season.

Here’s the rookie posting 20 points along with 2 locks in a win over the Chicago Bulls.

Hachimura has displayed an ability to score, a strong presence on the glass, and potential as a defender in the frontcourt. The rookie has done well in matchups with some of the league’s best, including LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard out in Los Angeles.

After last year’s first-round pick Troy Brown Jr didn’t necessarily branch out or develop as quickly, it’s been refreshing for Wizards fans to see an immediate return on the product. Some would even argue that if it weren’t for his injury, Hachimura would be a part of the Rookie of the Year race.

And when factoring in Washington’s aspirations for the playoffs next season, Hachimura showing he’s NBA ready this season holds a lot of promise for his contributions next year.