Solomon Washington’s name didn’t get called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver during the first round of last month’s draft.
It didn’t get called by deputy commissioner Mark Tatum the next night in the second round, either.
But that didn’t really matter.
The phone call he received from the New Orleans Pelicans letting him know he’d be on their Summer League roster was all he needed.
Washington just wanted to get his foot in the door.
It helps that he gets to do so with the team that plays just a few miles from New Orleans' 9th Ward, where he was raised.
“It’s surreal,” Washington said. “Growing up in New Orleans, you want to play for LSU. You want to play for the Pelicans and the Saints. For them to give me that call, it was emotional. Me and my mom, we shed a tear. It’s still an opportunity to get better and to show that you belong.”
The 6-foot-7 forward gets his first chance to prove himself Thursday when the Pelicans play the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Summer League opener in Las Vegas. Washington knows exactly what he brings to the table.
“My strength is my energy,” Washington said. “My defense. Guarding 1 through 5. A great rebounder. I play with my heart on my sleeve.”
Washington averaged almost a double-double (9.8 points and 9.2 rebounds) this past season at Maryland. He played just one year at Maryland after spending his first three seasons at Texas A&M.
It was his sophomore season at A&M when Washington found his niche and started figuring things out.
“College was a culture shock,” Washington said. “I went from being the best player to the ultimate role guy. Just me embracing that role. Nobody is going to pay me to put the ball in the basket. I’m going to have to bring energy every night. Guard the best guy and keep other guys engaged on defense. That’s my calling card.”
The Pelicans are hoping Washington can blossom into a Dennis Rodman or Isaiah Stewart-type player. The kind of player who may not fill the stat sheet with points, but can impact the game in other ways with that toughness and grit that executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars has so often talked about. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that it was the first thing out of the mouth of Pelicans’ head coach Jamahl Mosley when asked what he likes about Washington's game.
“That toughness,” Mosley said. “He represents what this city is about. The tenacity. The resiliency. The focus level. There is a toughness that he possesses every single game. His willingness to learn what we are trying to teach. He’s quick to pick things up and do whatever is necessary to get on the floor.”
Washington has always been that way, dating back to his playing days at Carver High in New Orleans East. Nate Roche coached Washington all four years at Carver and got an up-close look at his ascent.
“For a kid like Solomon to come from where he came from is special,” Roche said. “You’re talking about a kid who was unranked and didn’t really get up there in the national rankings. He really just got it out the mud and worked. With him coming from the 9th Ward, the public school system, and playing park ball in the NORD recreational system, we’re extremely proud of a kid that trusted his process and saw it all the way through.”
Washington led Carver to a state championship in his senior season. Not only was he named Metro Player of the Year as the best player in the greater New Orleans area, but he was also named Louisian’s Mr. Basketball.
Roche describes Washington as "freakishly athletic," something high school sportswriter and videographer Josh Preston saw time and time again. Preston has covered high school hoops in the area for a dozen years and has the high-flying Washington on his short list of best dunkers to come through the area, right alongside guys like former Chalmette High star Mitchell Robinson, who went on to play with the New York Knicks and recently signed with the Boston Celtics.
Washington became a regular in Preston’s videos on social media because of the way he attacked the rim.
“Solomon never really got any bodies, though, because nobody would jump with him,” Preston said.
Preston says Washington is the most vocal defensive player he has ever watched. He recalls the game when Carver was playing Madison Prep and one of the cheerleaders said, "He doesn’t ever shut up."
Washington is always busy making sure his teammates are where they are supposed to be.
His teammates on the Pelicans’ Summer League team have already gotten a glimpse of that in practice. When second-round draft pick Jaron Pierre wasn’t guarding as hard as Washington thought he should be, Washington reminded him to. Pierre welcomed the encouragement.
“Tell me that s*** again.”
Pierre, who is also from New Orleans, has known Washington for years. The two of them played football in the streets together in the East when they were younger. They also hooped against each other in AAU ball and high school. So the respect between the two is mutual. Pierre gives Washington’s pointers on offense. Washington returns the favor on the other end.
“He’s always been that aggressive kid,” Pierre said. “He doesn’t have to come out there and do anything on the offensive end and he still can make an impact by running the floor and getting dunks and getting blocked shots. He brings his own energy.”
Washington and Pierre are rooting for each other. They both want to see each other succeed. Washington was one of the first people to call Pierre when he was drafted. Shortly after the draft, Washington got the call he wanted — a chance on the Summer League roster.
“I never thought I’d be in this position,” Washington said. “If you had told me I’d be in this position a few years ago, I would have said you’re lying.”
Washington admits that he thought his route would be playing overseas, thousands of miles from his New Orleans home. Instead, he gets his chance not too far from the 9th Ward.
“For me to get this opportunity is big," Washington said. “That’s why I know I’ve got to work hard. I’ve got to put in extra hours. When I’m not here, I’ve got to go run a mile. Run two (miles). Just do the things that will keep me in position to make plays. Whatever the team needs me to do for us to be successful, I’m ready to do it.”