3 Rookies Who Surprised us on NBA Opening Night

Wednesday night was the season opener for most NBA teams, and it didn't disappoint in the slightest. A number of celebrated lottery picks looked great in their debuts, including RJ Barrett, Ja Morant, and Coby White, and while this was great to see, it's somewhat expected from players of their caliber. With that in mind, let's identify three less-heralded rookies that put up spirited efforts in their first NBA games.

1. PJ Washington, Hornets

The 12th pick by the Charlotte Hornets absolutely lit it up on Wednesday. PJ Washington had 27 point and drained seven threes, giving him a franchise record for most points scored by a rookie in his debut. The Kentucky should get plenty of more chances this season to show what he can do.

2. Kendrick Nunn, Heat

Kendrick Nunn went undrafted in 2018, and finally made his debut after a season of grinding in the G League. Based off how he played Wednesday, you'd think he was a top-10 pick. Nunn had 24 points on 10-18 shooting in just 27 minutes on the floor, likely solidifying himself in the Heat's rotation going forward.

3. Rui Hachimura, Wizards

Though drafted pretty highly, it wasn't clear exactly how ready Gonzaga's Rui Hachimura would be for the next level. Those questions were answered on Wednesday, as Rui recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Much of the talk regarding the Wizards is about the lack of help Bradley Beal has, but Hachimura might have something to say about that.