Echenique was treated to hero's welcome in Colombia

Jaime Echenique believed he could avoid detection. He could wear a COVID mask while being 6-foot-11 and 260 pounds. They wouldn't be able to see his face, at least.

[{"selector":"#anim-acc9855b-64b5-469d-bf13-334319fd79e9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bac1d9d1-86e4-4693-aebf-8e5f4f867150","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4b6cbb3-0d1a-4c93-bb8f-d63747a0b7e8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 120.13466%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Echenique had returned to Colombia, where he had made history as the nation's first NBA player only a few months earlier.

[{"selector":"#anim-18e4dc0a-7d65-4e2a-8510-c5cd686f2c73 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.910592830646724%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a9b57d2-1afc-4dbf-b1fa-7f3c88e33fa8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a677f2e4-95fb-4262-b24d-910a78f2153f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 142.91463%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Echenique had tried his best to put it behind him and concentrate on his ultimate objective of establishing longevity in the NBA. Before making his NBA debut, he stated that it was simply the first step in what he hoped would be a long and fruitful career at the top level of basketball.

[{"selector":"#anim-1cbd5394-db79-4107-9b19-0b81ec3d0365 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.86420507028692%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Due to his demanding basketball schedule and the coronavirus pandemic, 25-year-old Echenique was only able to visit his homeland of Barranquilla once in the previous five years. He stayed there with friends and family for about a month.

[{"selector":"#anim-73f0e5b3-342d-4ec2-9341-3452bb2b3882 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-62.73018251683465%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eca3cb8c-7f70-4bf9-92d5-abdb23546557","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5923c62e-7564-4396-9a42-1d1b1c908400","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -313.28281%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Echenique later participated in the Las Vegas Summer League for the Wizards club, where he once again stood out. In order to be ready for what he believes will be additional time on the NBA roster, he has promised not to take any days off this summer.

[{"selector":"#anim-e7f7ebd1-5d12-4755-851b-c35581fdf42a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-064b914f-b40d-4774-b742-475f29809ed4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Flight Path

Echenique cried in his car when he first got the news of his call-up that morning, then he cried at the podium in front of reporters after the game.

[{"selector":"#anim-f66b5d6b-f91a-432e-8657-c123b291e2ec [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, -0.000004189724130299055%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c57e2198-2ead-480f-86f8-11c24d32590b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]