Despite missing four games to start the season, Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura is already back in mid-season form.
Hachimura was diagnosed with conjunctivitis and had to work his way back to full strength quickly without much practice time.
In three games, the 22-year-old is averaging 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, while shooting 51.9 percent from the field.
The Wizards are 2-1 in those three games.
Hachimura reportedly added 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason and he has used that to his advantage, leading the team with 5.0 post-ups per game.
“[Our shooters] open up the floor, so it’s really easy to post up,” said Hachimura. “Especially now, all the other teams are switching on me, so I’ve got small guys on me. That’s when it gets easy.”
Hachimura took advantage of a mismatch in the post with Kyrie Irving in the team’s 123-122 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
“Point guards aren’t going to get away with switching on him,” said head coach Scott Brooks. “He puts them into the paint and scores on them very quickly.”
Hachimura has the chance to be one of the Wizards most important players this season where they have expectations to make a playoff push.
