Washington Wizards: Why Rui Hachimura is their third-best player

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 06: Rui Hachimura #8 of the Washington Wizards looks on prior to playing against the Atlanta Hawks at Capital One Arena on March 06, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 06: Rui Hachimura #8 of the Washington Wizards looks on prior to playing against the Atlanta Hawks at Capital One Arena on March 06, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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Washington Wizards Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images /

2. Points per game

Before the COVID-19-induced hiatus from the pandemic that ravaged not just the United States but the whole world, Hachimura was averaging 13.4 points per game which is the third-highest on the team. Clearly, points do not illustrate the whole story, but in this case, it certainly tells a lot of it.

Considering the fact that the Japan native is a rookie and is scoring this kind of volume on an injury-plagued team speaks volumes. Not to mention he is averaging more than Troy Brown Jr. who was drafted by Washington 15th overall in the 2018 draft.

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The only players that are averaging more than Hachimura are Beal (obviously) and Davis Bertans. Again the points are impressive but the level of confidence that the rookie has is inspiring.

In addition to Hachimura averaging the third-highest point total, he does this in spite of not really having any plays called for him. Even without his own page in the playbook, the rookie still finds a way to make the correct basketball play at a high frequency.