Hilton Armstrong Wants to Start in Washington

Newcomer Armstrong (who put up all of 1.4 ppg and 1.5 rpg last season) tells the Washington Examiner that he wants to be the Wizards’ starting center: “A breakout season for the 25-year-old, 6-foot-11 Armstrong after spending his first four NBA seasons as a token reserve center averaging just 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds would also be fun. He is nursing a slight left hand injury — he writes with the right — with three knuckles and his index finger taped up but said he’ll be ready for camp. ‘Every season I started, I was in New Orleans, and I had to play backup behind Tyson [Chandler] and whoever else was there,’ said Armstrong. ‘But this year, I’m just coming in and playing hard, and right now, I feel like it’s an open spot for the starting spot. I’m just going to play as hard as I can to get the spot … I’m still going to play as hard as I can to help the team out, get some wins and try to get to the playoffs.’ After nearly playing his way onto the USA Basketball team, JaVale McGee may have something to say about who should be considered the starter, but Armstrong’s attitude could also represent some of the larger uncertainty over the Wizards lineup.”