Willy Hernangmez play this tuesday his best game since he arrived in the NBA (29 points and 10 rebounds) and he also did it after three weeks in which he had no minutes with the New Orleans Pelicans, a situation that, from the pride of what was achieved today, he addressed with sincerity after the game.
“I’m going to be honest, guys,” he told reporters at the press conference after falling to the Philadelphia 76ers (117-107)
“Sometimes it’s really hard. You work extremely hard in practice before games, you try not to lose anything… I was playing really well, I felt like I was playing my best basketball (before I came off the rotation). So during these three weeks I’ve been trying to keep pushing myself, keep ready, keep getting better every day.”
“As a player, you always want to be ready for your team, for your family, for your friends. I just try to work hard and at the same time, when given an opportunity, I want to put the coach in a position to see what’s going to happen.” do in the next game. I just want to be prepared and help the team,” he added.
Hernangmez’s 29 points tonight topped the 24 points he had scored twice in 2017 while playing for the New York Knicks and that until now represented his top in the NBA.
At the break he already had 21 points, which is the highest score he has achieved in one part in the NBA.
As a starter due to the absence of Jonas Valančiūnas due to rest and with 30 minutes on the court, Hernangmez shone in the lead (11 of 15 from the field, 6 of 7 free throws) and 5 of his 10 rebounds were in attack.
The Spaniard had hardly had any opportunities with the Pelicans so far this month since, after the return of Valanciunas, he had only played on January 1 against the Pelicans. Milwaukee Bucks and on January 3 before the Utah Jazz.
Duel against Embiid
Hernangmez’s statistics have even more merit considering that throughout the night he was paired with Joel Embiid, one of the most dominant centers in the NBA and who is now also in an exceptional state of form.
Embiid had 42 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists, and ended the game in a long hug with Hernangmez after a fantastic battle between centers.
“As a player, you always want to challenge yourself because you want to play against the best every night. I was watching a lot of videos of Embiid yesterday. I always like playing against him. He’s one of the top fives in the league, if not the best, along with to Nikola Jokic“, comments the Spaniard.
“Today I tried to be aggressive, make him work from my defense, and also attack him. I tried to do my best. Honestly, I’m exhausted and still he has reached 40 points…”, he added with a smile.
The Pelicans went to Philadelphia with very important casualties such as those of Jonas Valanciunas, Brandon Ingram, Devonte’ Graham or Josh Hart, but they stood up to the powerful Sixers until the last quarter.
In this sense, Hernangmez said that they had to be “proud” of the effort of the whole team against the Sixers.
“We fought very hard. Obviously, it was a difficult game for us since we had played last night. But I think that every player from our team that stepped on the pitch gave their best,” he said.
Praise from your coach
Pelicans coach, Willie Green, had words of much praise for Hernangmez after the match and about his duel with Embiid.
“It’s impressive. Willy is one of the pillars of our team,” he said.
“In the locker room, in training and every time we call him into a game, he steps up in a big way. I’m proud of what he did tonight.”
