There appears to be a power struggle of sorts within the reigns of the Washington Wizards, and it all centers around the No. 8. It's nothing to be too concerned about for Wizards fans, though, with veteran forward Davis Bertans apparently not looking to cause an issue with youngster Rui Hachimura with regards to the rights for the said jersey number.
Bertans is currently wearing the No. 42 since joining the Wizards last summer. He has had his eye on the No. 8 shirt — the same number he wears for the Latvian national team — which is currently owned by 22-year-old rookie Hachimura. According to Bertans, though, this is something he is willing to let go, especially considering the fact that in Hachimura's local tongue, the word “Hachi” literally translates to the number eight.
“That might be only reason I didn’t pull the vet card and say, ‘you have to change the number,’” Bertans joked, via Jackson Filyo of NBA.com. “It probably means a lot more to him than to me.”
Hachimura was born in Japan, and it is clear that the Wizards rookie keeps his roots close to his heart. Bertans has no intention of getting in the way of the same, and as he said above, he is willing to give in to the rook when it comes to their jersey numbers.
After all, Bertans might not be a Wizard for too long. The 6-foot-10 forward will be entering free agency in the summer, and based on his outstanding showing for Washington this season, he is looking to be one of the hottest prospects in the free agency market this offseason. The Wizards will have their work cut out for them in terms of trying to retain the sharp-shooting Bertans.
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