Duane Washington Jr.'s 2021‑22 Season in Photos
Duane Washington Jr.'s 2021‑22 Season in Photos
1 / 15After going undrafted, rookie guard Duane Washington Jr. signed a two-way contract with Indiana last July. The expectation was that the former Ohio State standout would spend most of his first professional season with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the NBA G League, but injuries forced him into a larger role at the NBA level. Washington appeared in just three games and logged just five total minutes before Christmas, but got his first real opportunity after a COVID-19 outbreak at the holidays. He scored 20 points on Jan. 2 at Cleveland, the first of four straight double-digit scoring outings. As injuries continued to mount, Washington remained in the lineup, appearing in 48 games and starting seven. He averaged 9.9 points per game and shot 37.7 percent from 3-point range. He finished the season 12th among rookies who played at least 40 games in scoring and fourth in 3-point percentage. Washington reached double figures 26 times, scoring 20 or more points on four occasions. He scored a career-high 22 points on Jan. 29 in Dallas and again on March 13 in Atlanta. Washington also set a franchise rookie record by making seven 3-pointers in 23 minutes in a game at New Orleans on Jan. 24.