Rui Hachimura‘s output has helped the Los Angeles Lakers do well in the 2024–25 NBA season. In his third season with the team, Hachimura has earned the starting spot, playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Japanese attacker has performed exceptionally well defensively this season. According to head coach JJ Redick, Los Angeles has leaned on Hachimura on both ends. The forward, on the other hand, has made the most of what the coaching staff has taught him, especially on the defensive end.
“I think they’re just letting me play with my strengths,” Hachimura said after practice on Wednesday. “Those things that they’re telling me, it doesn’t hurt my career. It actually helps my career. It helps me and it helps the team, so it’s a win-win situation.”
“I’m trying to focus on that, especially defensively. People always talk about [my defense], but with the team defense, with this concept, I think I can be active and I can not try to guess but be in the right position and I can use my length. I think that’s the one thing that I’ve been working on with the coaches and I think that’s getting better.”
Rui Hachimura has focused on improving defensively this season.https://t.co/8gHNiyZjk8
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) December 20, 2024
The 6-foot-8 forward is aware that he needs to be a reliable defensive stopper, given than players like Jarred Vanderbilt has been sidelined.
“For sure. I think when we watch film with the coaches, it’s mostly about defense and especially with Vando out and some other guys out. I have to be the one to guard those best players on the other team. So it actually helps me. I can get the reps and I can kind of use that to other players, whoever we’re against. As a team I think we have a great help defense right now, which is kind of helping me.”
Lakers view Hachimura as a ‘Longer-Term Piece’
While Hachimura has not posted All-Star numbers, the Lakers are still aware of the value he brings. According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, the forward is viewed as a longer-term piece for the team.
“I think Rui is viewed as a longer-term piece. I don’t think that means they would not trade him, but I think when you look at, there are four midsize salaries that the Lakers can trade between now and Jan. 15. On Jan. 15, Max Christie becomes available, so then it becomes five, but between now and Jan. 15, the Lakers have four midsize salaries to trade. That’s Rui, DLo, Gabe and Vando. I think among those four, the guy that they’d prefer to keep from that group would be Rui. That’s the guy that they view as the longest-term piece.”
REPORT: The Lakers view Rui Hachimura as a long-term piece, per @jovanbuha.
“I don’t think that means they would not trade him, but among the four midsize salaries the Lakers can trade between now and January 15 (Rui, Gabe Vincent, D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt), Rui is… pic.twitter.com/RZQCkN0llA
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 17, 2024
This season, Hachimura is averaging 12.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen with Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
