Rui Hachimura has developed into one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ most important role players over the past couple of years since being acquired in a midseason trade with the Washington Wizards back in 2023. He was a lottery pick of the Wizards in 2019 when they were coached by Scott Brooks.
Brooks was let go by the Wizards in 2021 and now is on head coach JJ Redick’s staff with the Lakers, reuniting him with Hachimura, and the two have grown an excellent relationship. Thursday night’s game against the Wizards was a return for both and Hachimura turned in a strong performance with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field in a blowout victory for the Lakers.