Rui Hachimura is something Anthony Davis and the Lakers want him to “get back” to being.
After Rui Hachimura was dealt from Washington to Los Angeles last year, he played a significant role in the Lakers’ season-long turnaround.
Hachimura has faced difficulties this season due to a strained calf, a concussion, and a fractured nose. After rejoining the Lakers, he has scored ten points or more and made at least fifty percent of his field goals in the last two games.
While many Lakers fans are fixated on the team’s starting lineup and methods to improve it, Anthony Davis recognizes the value of having a healthy and reliable sixth man in Hachimura in the lineup for this team to succeed.
Davis remarked, “He’s fresh,” after the Lakers defeated the Thunder at home. He has new legs because he hasn’t been out for a short while. He plays with assurance. Naturally, Rui had a significant role in our success last year, and we simply want him to return to his true nature. He occasionally overthinks a play because he wants to make the best one. We’re like, “Just be who you are.” Just keep your thoughts aside and shoot hoops. He has been shooting the ball and going after the hoop like that for the past two games.
To help this club win, Hachimura doesn’t need to produce huge performances like the 21 points he scored against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. All he needs to do is make shots when they are open, grab rebounds, and play his hardest on defense.
Who knows if Hachimura will be sold or remain on the team given his team-friendly contract and the Lakers’ poor record (20–21)? Nevertheless, as long as he wears the purple and gold, he will play a big role and must perform well for the Lakers to win games.
The Lakers will win more games than they lose in 2024 if Hachimura can continue to follow the template set by these last two games for his success. If he can accomplish that over this homestand and the remainder of his stay in Los Angeles.
