Los Angeles Lakers rookie Josh Hart has made a splash despite being the last pick of the first round in the 2017 NBA Draft, having plenty of chances to show his potential along with this young core of players.

Head coach Luke Walton praised his ability to adapt to the NBA game, noting he's bound to improve even more during his first offseason in the league.

“He's done a nice job of figuring out what the NBA game is about,” said Walton, according to Matthew Moreno of Lakers Nation. “I think he's another one of these guys that's going to have a big offseason… He's done a great job of consistently working.”

Yet, the young coach didn't think limiting Hart to a three-and-D spectrum is fair to the real ceiling of his game.

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“He's one of our best finishers, he's one of our best rebounders, he can push it in transition… Saying he's a 3-and-D guy is limiting his potential as player.”

The rookie guard out of Villanova was expected to fit that three-and-D mold after showing an excellent stroke and ability to be a force on defense with a sturdy 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame.

Hart agreed with Walton's assessment, refusing to limit himself to only being a prototype player in this league.

“I think I do a lot more things than that,” said Hart. “I can defend some of the best players, I can rebound, I can push it, make plays off the dribble and that kind of thing. I don't label myself a 3-and-D guy because I'm not going to sell myself short.”