2020-21 BBNBA Season in Review: P.J. Washington

P.J. Washington was consistent as a paperboy in year two. His raw numbers remained virtually unchanged and neither did his role, as Washington served as one of the few dependable pieces on a team that was better than it should have been but could never put the puzzle together from a health standpoint.

Here are his numbers, a referendum on his last year of play and a guess at where the former Wildcat will go from there.

Numbers

Season averages (per game): 12.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.2 blocks

Shooting splits: 44% FG, 74.5% FT, 48% 2p, 38.6% 3p on 4.5 attempts per game

More (extra & interesting) stats:

• Played 46% of his minutes at center
• 2nd on Hornets in minutes played in 2021
• Led Hornets in personal fouls committed
• Season-high (also career-high) of 42 points
• 14th in NBA in total blocks and blocks per game

This past season

As listed, P.J. Washington averaged nearly a 13/6/2 stat line in his second season, which almost exactly reflected his rookie numbers. He didn’t take that sophomore “leap,” nor did he take a step back. Numbers-wise it’s a parallel step. Despite the mirrored stats from year one to two, I still believe Washington took a decent skip in development, just maybe not an entire “leap.”

For Charlotte, P.J.’s rookie season was designed to earn a top draft pick (check!) and provide experience for its young core (check!). They did both, drafting Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball and providing ample opportunity for guys like Devonte’ Graham, Washington, Miles Bridges and others to play through mistakes and accumulate minutes on an NBA court.

The result, obviously, was a ton of losses and LaMelo Ball. But those youngsters all developed as well. So, heading out of the Bubble and back into play for the first time since March for Charlotte, their core was more polished than the year prior.

In 2021, Washington, Bridges, Graham to an extent, and several other young pieces on the periphery played about the same roles as they did previously, but the team was just better.

The same group that binge lost games in 2019 was now square in the playoff race. Sure, the numbers from Graham, Bridges and Washington hadn’t really gone up, but the team was winning a lot more, which gives a lot more credit to those numbers.

He wasn’t asked to score more points or become the face of the franchise in year two. He was asked to play the same exact role he did as a rookie, but on a team that’s busting their tail to get into the playoffs, not shrugging at a pile of losses. 

In year one, Washington proved he can play in this league; that he’ll be here to stay. In year two, he proved he could be a starter/rotation player on a playoff team. What’s his next progression?

Looking ahead…

P.J. is playing in such an exciting spot for a young player like himself. The team was unexpectedly good last year, which is so rare. Far too often, NBA fans focus on expectations that are disappointed rather than the opposite. Also, Charlotte and the Memphis Grizzlies (another franchise that made the play-in) seem to have such great camaraderie with each other. Guys are connected, happy to be together, happy to play basketball together and without the weight of the world on their shoulders. It’s basketball nirvana!

They weren’t expected to win games this season, but they did, and earned a play-in spot. Ultimately their postseason lasted one game, but that’s longer than the previous four years.

Heading into the 2021-22 season, Charlotte will now have expectations. Not to win anything consequential, but at least to make the play-in again. And why not? Yes, the Hornets overachieved, but they were even better than the record indicated, given they missed so many guys due to injuries and COVID complications throughout the year.

They should be decent, middle of the pack again at least. As for Washington, what’s that mean?

Perhaps he’ll just continue to score his 12 points a game, make his corner threes and play solid defense, just for possibly an even better team. That’s no reason to complain. If he averages these numbers in perpetuity he’ll retire a very rich man.

Every single team would love to have Washington: a young, dependable two-way player that converts threes at a high rate. A simple skillset that’s extremely desirable in the modern league.

Of course, him averaging the same numbers and playing essentially the same role is the floor. Could he take an actual big “leap” in year three?

Not sure. I wouldn’t predict him to score a whole lot more because he’s not a big-time creator and he plays with a lot of other talent. Terry Rozier was terrific last season, Gordon Hayward as well when he was healthy, and LaMelo Ball looked the part of a future star.

So for P.J., he may not have the offensive freedom he would have had two years ago or if he played for a tanker in Oklahoma City or Houston, but instead he’ll get more valuable experience as a young player on a playoff contender, learning what it takes to win the big games.

He’s set a very solid base for himself as a player and will continue to be a productive member of society on the basketball court in Charlotte for (hopefully) a very, very long time.