In his first official appearance as a Washington Wizard, Kirk Hinrich played down the role he played as Derrick Rose‘s mentor in Chicago – even though he’ll do whatever is called for to help out John Wall – and made it clear that although his trade to Washington certainly caught him by surprise, he does look at joining the Wizards as a fresh start.
“I just felt like I got way too much credit for that,” said Hinrich of helping Rose develop into an all-star. “I always was talking to him and things like that, but he was very good.”
The Wizards certainly hope Hinrich can work similar magic with Wall, but to Hinrich that means Wall will mostly learn by example. Doesn’t Hinrich feel like this year’s Mike Miller? He’s a veteran who possesses a nice set of complementary skills – in Hinrich’s case, tough defense, point guard skills and a pretty good outside jump shot – and can show a young roster how to work hard and be professional day in and day out during the exceedingly long grind of the NBA season. Miller started last year with plenty of other veterans around him in Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, but when they were gone, he was the only guy left.
“He’s been through a lot of things, and you need some veterans that have been through things before, that understand the ups and downs of an NBA season and don’t always get frustrated by it,” said Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld, who said he wanted to select Hinrich with the eighth pick in the 2003 NBA Draft when Grunfeld was the Milwaukee Bucks general manager. Hinrich, of course, went seventh to the Bulls.
“For leadership, you have to be one of those guys, a hard worker who everybody respects, and it’s about earning that and going out there and doing the right things, trying to play the right way,” said Hinrich. “I think that just comes with the territory. That’s what when Ernie traded for me, he knew that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to play the best I can and play the right way.”
Hinrich also said he thought the Wizards could be a playoff team.
“Whenever you get the number one pick and the guy is as talented as John, you have the young cast around him, it’s a sense of rebuilding, but I feel like we have the talent,” said Hinrich. “If we play the right way and play consistent and play hard every night, I feel like we can surprise a lot of people.”
Grunfeld didn’t commit to how Hinrich would be used – after all, he even suggested Hinrich could play small forward if necessary – and talked mostly about Washington having a three-guard rotation that includes Wall, Hinrich and Gilbert Arenas (Nick Young apparently is playing a lot of small forward this year).
“I know Gilbert, and first of all, I feel like he’s a top player in the league, no question, with his talent,” said Hinrich. “I’ve played against him a lot, and I’m looking forward to being on the same side with him. I feel like my impression of him is that he’s a good kid, and we’re going to go out there and hopefully have a lot of fun.”
Hinrich, of course, also famously saw Arenas hit a game-winning buzzer-beater over him in Game 5 of the 2005 Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
“I was just trying to stay in front of him, hoping he’d miss the jump shot, keep him out of the lane, and he hit a very tough one,” said Hinrich. “That’s just the type of player he is. That was good times – we didn’t win, but the competitiveness of that series was great.”
As for the chip on Hinrich’s shoulder – which gritty, defensive-minded Sioux City, Iowa, native has been known to play with throughout his career – there probably will be a Chicago edge to it, which is to be expected after seven years there.
“It hit me a little bit on the blind side with the trade, but it’s great to be wanted,” said Hinrich. “I’m excited. I feel like we got a good group of young guys and can make some things happen if we put our minds to it.”
