When Washington Wizards center Jaime Echenique checked in on Thursday versus the Cleveland Cavaliers, the undrafted standout from Wichita State became the first player born in Colombia to ever play in the NBA.
Echenique, who was born in Barranquilla, signed a 10-day contract via hardship exception by the NBA with several Wizards players out because of the health and safety protocol. He logged three minutes to close out the game as the Wizards won, 110-93.
The 24-year-old signed with the Wizards after playing with their NBA G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go. He appeared in 14 games with the Go-Go, averaging 12.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. He has six double-doubles and ranks third in the league with 25 blocks.
The moment, as Echenique described, was a dream come true.
“It just means so much at this point in my life that it doesn’t matter all the obstacles I had to pass in life, all those things came to this moment,” Echenique said, fighting back tears. “Those are the things that you really appreciate in life and make you just keep going and keep being hungry.”
Checking in for the first time! Jaime Echenique is a pioneer for generations to come. 🙏🇨🇴 @WashWizards pic.twitter.com/sg8xrAGhfH
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) December 31, 2021
The opportunity to play in the NBA didn’t seem all that likely last season.
On Jan. 4, Echenique tore his patellar tendon in his right knee playing with Acunsa GBC in Spain. He spent the next several months rehabbing the injury before joining the Wizards for summer league and training camp. He eventually logged two appearances during the preseason.
Once the signing was official, Echenique arrived at Capital One Arena to join the Wizards for a walkthrough. He revealed that he got emotional after driving into the parking lot. He took a second to take in the moment and realize that his dream of playing in the NBA had finally happened.
“It is just an amazing feeling, God is great,” Echenique said. “It has been just an amazing day. It’s a hell of a year, the best way to close the year. I’m just happy. Happy for me, happy for my family, happy for my country and happy for the people that believed in me and happy for myself.”
How would you describe making your NBA debut and being the first Colombian-born player in league history? 🇨🇴
We'll let @jaimeechenique tell you 👇 pic.twitter.com/4LIFZXv8o2
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) December 31, 2021
More than 200 players have entered the health and safety protocol in December, and 11 games have been postponed. Teams have called up more than 80 players from the G League to replace those in the protocol, creating opportunities for guys like Echenique.
The situation regarding the recent coronavirus outbreak has been challenging for everyone involved, but one uplifting consequence is seeing players like Echenique realize the opportunity of a lifetime.
Jan. 4 was a day Echenique will remember for a long time, but Dec. 30 will be forever etched in his memory.
“If I’m dreaming at this point,” Echenique said, “please don’t wake me up.”
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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