Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura misses around the first three weeks of his second NBA season with an eye disease often referred to as pink eye, the team announced Monday.
Rui Hachimura of the Washington Wizards throws the ball in a preseason game on Dec. 13, 2020 in New York. (NBAE / Getty / Kyodo)
The 22-year-old from Japan, who averaged 13.5 points and 6.1 rebounds and was named to the All-Rookie second team last season, was diagnosed with bilateral keratoconjunctivitis, or EKC, on Dec. 16, a according to the media. release.
“He has a hard case of pink eye … blurred vision, sensitive to light. He’s getting better,” coach Scott Brooks said.
Hachimura only played in the first preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets. He had a tough performance with 18 points and four rebounds, but then missed the remaining two preseason games while dealing with the eyeball protest.
The Wizards will play their first regular season game Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Related broadcast:
Basketball: Watanabe signs two-way contract with Toronto Raptors
Basketball: Women’s star Ramu Tokashiki tears ACL, possibly out of Tokyo Games
Basketball: Rui Hachimura, Most NBA Stars May Be Available for the Olympics