Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Healthy to start training camp
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General manager Rob Pelinka said Wednesday that Hachimura is medically cleared for the start of training camp, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports.
This doesn't come as a surprise, as Hachimura was healthy at the end of last season and starred for Japan during the Paris Olympics. However, he did deal with multiple injuries to begin the 2023-24 campaign, missing 14 of the first 39 games. When healthy, Hachimura is a dynamic scorer who can fill up the box score quickly, and he's expected to open the 2024-25 campaign as a starter in the Lakers' frontcourt next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, per Evan Sidery of Forbes.com.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Double-double in blowout defeat
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Hachimura chipped in 20 points (4-19 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 10-12 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists and one block across 36 minutes in Japan's 97-77 loss to Germany in the Paris Olympics on Saturday.
While Hachimura did rack up a double-double and score a team-high 20 points, he lived from the charity stripe as he struggled to hit shots from the field Saturday. The 26-year-old played nearly the entire game, and he will likely continue to serve as Japan's main offensive option moving forward. Hachimura will look to solve his shooting woes against France on Tuesday.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Ends season on high note
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Hachimura chipped in 15 points (6-15 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds and one assist across 34 minutes during Monday's 108-106 loss to the Nuggets in Game 5 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Hachimura scored in double figures for the first time during the opening-round series, but it wasn't enough as the Lakers were bounced from the playoffs by the Nuggets for a second consecutive season. From Feb. 9 through April 16, Hachimura averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals-plus-blocks in 31.4 minutes. He excelled as a starter during the regular season, but Hachimura's poor postseason may impact his role next season. He signed a three-year, $51 million deal with the Lakers last summer.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Shores up interior in loss
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Hachimura produced 20 points (7-21 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal in 31 minutes during Tuesday's 134-120 loss to the Warriors.
Hachimura was a valuable piece up front amid Anthony Davis' (head) absence, but his fourth double-double of the season wasn't enough to stave off the Warriors. All four of Hachimura's double-doubles have occurred over the last nine games, making the Gonzaga product a more consistent fantasy producer down the stretch. Over the nine-game span, Hachimura averaged 19.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Leads team with 30 points in loss
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Hachimura recorded 30 points (11-17 FG, 4-5 3Pt, 4-4 FT), six rebounds and one assist over 36 minutes during Sunday's 127-117 loss to the Timberwolves.
Hachimura tallied one of his best games of the season due to LeBron James' (illness) absence and an early exit from Anthony Davis (eye). Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes stepped up after Davis' exit, further highlighting the depth available to the Lakers as they try to keep pace in the West. Davis' injury isn't considered serious, so Hachimura could experience a slight regression Tuesday against the Warriors.
Hachimura provided 19 points (9-12 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 0-1 FT), seven rebounds, one assist and one block in 27 minutes during Wednesday's 125-120 victory over Washington.
Hachimura finished third on the Lakers in scoring Wednesday behind Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Hachimura is averaging 13.3 points per game this season, but since March 1 he's upped that to 17.2 points on 60.8 percent shooting (including 47.5 percent from three) to go along with 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists over 31.0 minutes per game.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Rides red-hot hand to 32 points
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Hachimura finished with 32 points (11-14 FG, 7-8 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 10 rebounds, one assist and two blocks across 36 minutes during Wednesday's 136-124 win over the Grizzlies.
Hachimura entered Wednesday having gone just 3-for-13 from three-point range over his previous five games, but he caught fire against Memphis to drain a season-best seven triples on just eight attempts. In addition to his offensive impact, the power forward grabbed 10 boards to notch his second double-double of the season -- both of which have come in his past two contests. Hachimura featured more prominently with Anthony Davis (knee) out of action, and the former could continue to take on a more central role if Davis needs to miss additional time.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Steps up sans LeBron James
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Hachimura amassed 16 points (7-14 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 14 rebounds and one assist across 39 minutes in Tuesday's 128-124 double-overtime victory over Milwaukee.
Hachimura had already been a fixture in the starting five for the Lakers, but thanks to the absence of LeBron James (ankle) as well as the two extra periods, he played his most minutes of the season and hoisted his most shot attempts since March 8. As per usual, Hachimura didn't make much of an all-around impact in the box score, though he was unusually effective on the glass, with his 14 boards marking the first time all season that he had secured double-digit rebounds.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Quiet in 30 minutes
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Hachimura ended with nine points (4-8 FG, 1-4 3Pt), five rebounds, one assist and one block in 30 minutes during Sunday's 150-145 win over Indiana.
Hachimura had scored in double digits in his previous seven games, but, surprisingly, his streak ended in a game in which the Lakers produced 150 points. He's been terrific in March, posting averages of 16.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.6 three-pointers.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Efficient in loss to Warriors
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Hachimura produced 14 points (7-10 FG, 0-2 3Pt), four rebounds, two assists and one block in 30 minutes during Saturday's 128-121 loss to Golden State.
Hachimura missed only three of his 10 shots from the field. Still, his contributions on both ends of the court were not enough to lift the Lakers past Golden State in this pivotal matchup with potential playoff-seeding implications. Hachimura has scored in double digits in five straight appearances, averaging 18.0 points while shooting 60.9 percent from the field in that five-game stretch.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Posts 20-point outing
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Hachimura accumulated 20 points (9-11 FG, 2-3 3Pt), three rebounds and one assist in 36 minutes during Wednesday's 120-107 loss to the Kings.
Hachimura struck with precision Wednesday. His extremely efficient outing pushed his recent performance to 19.0 points per game on 59.3 percent shooting off 13.5 shots across his last four games. Cam Reddish (ankle) has yet to consistently re-enter the rotation, but that is a potential factor in Hachimura's role moving forward.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Excels with 29 points
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Hachimura ended Wednesday's 130-120 loss to the Kings with 29 points (13-17 FG, 3-5 3Pt), two rebounds, one block and two steals across 33 minutes.
Hachimura is productive but unpredictable, as there's often no rhyme or reason for the wild differential in utilization. His return to the starting lineup in early February has reaped benefits for the Lakers, but Anthony Davis can be selfish in the frontcourt, allowing fewer opportunities for Hachimura to produce. He's still a viable fantasy candidate as long as he continues to start.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Solid contribution in victory
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Hachimura registered 17 points (8-15 FG, 1-5 3Pt), two rebounds and one steal in 29 minutes during Wednesday's 116-112 win over the Clippers.
Hachimura delivered as a scoring threat during Wednesday's win, but the team could use a little more help from him in secondary categories. It's hard to carve a significant role when LeBron James and Anthony Davis are carrying the load, and while the 6-foot-8 Gonzaga product pops for a decent number often enough, he's averaging only 3.8 rebounds per game. Activity off the glass is largely missing from Hachimura's game since he joined the Lakers last season.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Puts up 17 points in win
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Hachimura racked up 17 points (7-11 FG, 3-4 3Pt), seven rebounds, one block and two steals over 32 minutes during Friday's 123-118 victory over San Antonio.
Hachimura saw the fourth-most minutes for Los Angeles behind D'Angelo Russell (35), LeBron James (34) and Austin Reaves (33). Hachimura has now started eight straight games, and over that stretch he has reached double-digit scoring four times. The big man is averaging 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.5 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.6 triples across 31.3 minutes over the eight-game span.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Dominates from deep in season high
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Hachimura chipped in 36 points (13-19 FG, 6-8 3Pt, 4-5 FT), two rebounds, one assist and one block in 34 minutes during Wednesday's 138-122 victory over the Jazz.
Hachimura posted his best offensive performance of the season while picking up the gap left behind by LeBron James (ankle) and other Lakers players who were inactive, connecting on a half-dozen threes while ending as one of two players with 35 or more points. Hachimura surpassed the 30-point mark for the first time this season, setting season-best marks in both scoring and threes made in an impressive showcase.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Turns in 21 points
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Hachimura provided 21 points (9-13 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, one assist and one block across 37 minutes during Friday's 139-122 win over the Pelicans.
The Lakers chose to stand pat at the trade deadline, confirming their faith in Hachimura, who represented one of the team's best moves last season. Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) is expected to miss at least three weeks, and while Hachimura already had a leg up on his teammate, he'll likely see a steady lift his minute total for the next few weeks. The Gonzaga product is proving to be a better fit for the starting lineup, as Taurean Prince has struggled with the first unit.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Nabs another start
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Hachimura will start Saturday's game against the Knicks, Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com reports.
Hachimura will replace Taurean Prince in the first unit Saturday for his eighth start of the campaign. In his previous seven starts, Hachimura averaged 13.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Back in bench role
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Hachimura will come off the bench Thursday against the Bulls, Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com reports.
Hachimura drew a pair of starts Sunday against the Trail Blazers and Tuesday against the Clippers, but the Gonzaga product will retreat to the bench now that LeBron James and Taurean Prince are back at full strength. Hachimura is averaging 19.0 minutes in his last four contests as a reserve.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Joins starting lineup
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Hachimura is starting Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers, Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet reports.
Hachimura has come off the bench in his four appearances since returning from a calf injury, but he'll make his sixth start of the season Sunday due to Taurean Prince (knee) being sidelined. Over his previous five starts this year, Hachimura has averaged 14.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game.
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura: Delivers donut Friday
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Hachimura notched zero points (0-6 FG, 0-3 3Pt), two rebounds and one assist over 15 minutes during Friday's 130-112 loss to the Nets.
Hachimura failed to score in 15 minutes, highlighting why he should not be considered a viable long-term fantasy asset. He is currently averaging 11.2 points in 22.9 minutes per game, placing him well outside the top 200 in standard leagues. Other than limited value as a points streamer, Hachimura can be overlooked in all competitive formats.
