When the Los Angeles Lakers traded guard Kendrick Nunn and multiple second-round draft picks to the Washington Wizards for forward Rui Hachimura in late January, it was viewed as a solid, under-the-radar type of trade.
Since then, that deal has been overshadowed by the Russell Westbrook blockbuster that followed a few weeks later. However, it has become hard to ignore Hachimura’s impact on and contribution to the Lakers.
Buy Lakers TicketsHe was inconsistent offensively for much of the regular season, but he picked a great time to get as hot as an August day in the San Fernando Valley.
On Sunday in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Japan native went off for 29 points on 11-of-14 shooting in just 30 minutes off the bench. His prolific performance allowed the Lakers to defeat Ja Morant’s crew convincingly, 128-112.
Afterward, Hachimura said the Lakers have made him feel “very confident and comfortable,” and he even praised the work player development coach Phil Handy has put in with him.
Rui Hachimura: “Since I got here, this team really believes in me … (it makes me) very confident and comfortable.”
He added that watching film with assistant coach Phil Handy has been huge, with Handy pointing out the types of shots he needs to be ready to take.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) April 16, 2023
Hachimura will be a restricted free agent this summer, and keeping him on a new contract would significantly increase L.A.’s odds of winning it all next season.
