Rui Hachimura returned from a month-long injury absence looking like a different person. Rui Hachimura has had a solid overall season that has ranged from solid to spectacular over the past five games.
Against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night, he scored a game-high 26 points on 11-for-18 shooting, including 3-for-5 from 3-point range. Rui Hachimura also contributed 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal.
That steal was interrupted by a fast break dunk at the other end, one of a string of strong finishes from the fourth-year pro. During this recent period, Rui Hachimura’s best qualities have been on display. He’s been stretching the floor with outside shots while punishing opposing teams around the rim.
In his last five games after recovering from a fractured right ankle, Hachimura averaged 21.4 points on 60 percent shooting. He’s starting to really hit his stride and now has two games with 25-plus points, compared to none last year.
Rui Hachimura has been so good that opposing teams are promoting him to scouting reports. As Suns head coach Monty Williams explained last week, he’s changing how the rest of the league perceives him.
“I think from the jump shot you get the sense that he’s a guy who can score. It looks like he’s shooting the 3 with more confidence now. Before, he was more of a mid-range low post player in my opinion. He seems to have more much confidence have confidence stretch it [with his three]said Williams.
“I’ve always thought of him as a one-dribble one-pull guy. Now he can dribble more than once. He’s a big, strong kid. If you don’t have a big guy guarding him, he can bury you. So, I think He’s going to be a guy who can draw double teams against smaller guys. That’s always an advantage for the team.”
Here are the details for the rival coaches. Hachimura has been a tough player to stop once the dribble goes downhill. But now that he’s more experienced, stronger and has further developed his ballhandling, he’s especially good at attacking defenders with his drive to the rim.
That element, combined with an improved outside shot, has made it increasingly difficult for Rui Hachimura to stay in front. Once he steps on someone, he can lower his shoulders and force his way to the rim with contact.
Rui Hachimura has been under fire throughout the season for his prolonged injury absence, which has resulted in him missing 16 of the Wizards’ 38 games. He’s been their fourth-leading scorer, but only played 59 percent of the time.
But now that he’s healthy and playing like this, Hachimura’s odds of success this season are increasing. With his teams playing just 38 of 82 regular-season games, there’s still time for a breakout year.
Rui Hachimura is now averaging 13.6 points per game, just shy of his career high of 13.8. He shot the highest field goal percentage of his career (52.2) and the second-highest three-point percentage (34.5).
Rui Hachimura is comfortable in his role and helping the Wizards win games. Maybe it won’t be long before the likes of Rui Hachimura’s performance in the past five games will become more common. Maybe one day soon, he will be such a person.
