Second-year Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura is set to open his ledger on the 2020-21 season after being cleared to play in tomorrow's tilt against the Chicago Bulls, his team announced Wednesday.
Coach Scott Brooks expects Hachimura to play around 20 minutes in his season debut, according to The Athletic's Fred Katz.
The 22-year-old missed the team's first four games due to bilateral epidemic keratoconjunctivitis - an eye infection. When the Wizards announced his prognosis on Dec. 21, the team had originally anticipated he would miss about three weeks.
Hachimura was selected ninth overall out of Gonzaga in 2019. The Japanese-born big man impressed in his rookie campaign, averaging 13.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in Year 1.
The season-long performance brought Hachimura All-Rookie Second Team honors, marking the first Wizards player to make either all-freshman team since Bradley Beal in 2013.
