<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-rui-hachimura-eye-catching-sumo-wrestling-training-video');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers’ Rui Hachimura shares eye-catching sumo wrestling training video');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Rui-Hachimura-on-April-25-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers’ Rui Hachimura shares eye-catching sumo wrestling training video</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-10T20:21:15-07:00">August 10th, 8:21pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-10T20:21:15-07:00">August 10th, 8:21pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Rui Hachimura will once again play a key role for the Los Angeles Lakers as they enter their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-luka-doncic-eurobasket">first full season with Luka Doncic</a>. By the looks of it, Hachimura isn’t taking his responsibility lightly.</p><p>The 27-year-old forward is expected to start for the Lakers, along with Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton. He has been a productive member of the squad with his athleticism, versatility, and range.</p><p>This offseason, Hachimura is making sure that he unlocks more facets of his game. He is also doing it in a unique way, <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1954718360589279466" rel="noopener">training with sumo wrestlers</a> in his home country of Japan, as posted on his Instagram Story.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rui Hachimura training alongside sumo wrestlers in Japan this offseason 😤</p><p>(via rui_8mura/IG)<a href="https://t.co/BclL9NdjT5">pic.twitter.com/BclL9NdjT5</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1954718360589279466?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Hachimura can learn a lot from sumo wrestlers. They are known for their extreme strength, especially in their legs, core, and upper body. They could help the Lakers forward deal with the physicality in the NBA. Sumo wrestlers also have impressive balance and endurance.</p><p>Perhaps more importantly, Hachimura can learn discipline and focus. Sumo wrestlers are lauded for their very regimented training, including meditation. It’s not a secret that mental strength is important in the NBA, especially for someone who plays for a highly publicized team like the Lakers.</p><p>Players try different methods in the offseason to level up, and it’s cool to see Hachimura, who was born in Toyama, get back to his roots. The former Gonzaga standout has also played for Japan in different international tournaments.</p><p>Last season, he averaged 13.1 points on 50.9% shooting from the field and 5.0 rebounds in a career-high 31.7 minutes per game. He has earned the trust of coach JJ Redick, who utilized Hachimura in various schemes, particularly when they play small.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/early-los-angeles-lakers-trade-candidates-2025-26-season">Hachimura, however, has also been linked to trade rumors</a> since last season, with the Miami Heat, the Sacramento Kings, and the Brooklyn Nets being mentioned as possible destinations.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers’ Rui Hachimura shares eye-catching sumo wrestling training video

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/sources-lakers-jazz-rui-hachimura-john-collins-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Sources: Lakers, Jazz have talked Rui Hachimura, John Collins trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Colin-Gallant-Senior-Lead-NHL-Editor.jpg"><figcaption>Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Sources: Lakers, Jazz have talked Rui Hachimura, John Collins trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-19T07:22:43-07:00">June 19th, 7:22am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-19T10:17:15-07:00">June 19th, 10:17am</time><address><a>Anthony Irwin</a>Anthony Irwin has been covering the Lakers in some capacity for roughly a decade at outlets such as Locked on Lakers, Silver Screen &amp; Roll and Forum Blue &amp; Gold. He currently podcasts about the team on The Lakers Lounge and the NBA in general on Basketball Passport. He looks forward to continuing his reporting for ClutchPoints after entering the rumor foray over the last couple years.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Sources close to the Los Angeles Lakers say that internally, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-rumors-john-collins-becoming-prime-jazz-trade-candidate">they have long been fans of John Collins</a>, who has the ability to stretch the floor both as a deep threat or someone who can finish well above the rim. Many within the Lakers organization believe Collins would be an especially great fit alongside Luka Doncic. Since their season ended, they’ve held a few conversations with the Utah Jazz to try to land the 27-year-old big man, with Rui Hachimura often the centerpiece of the deal.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/nba-rumors-lakers-linked-to-another-jazz-trade-besides-walker-kessler">Andy Larsen also reported on this on an appearance</a> on Locked on Jazz.</p><p>If the Lakers were to include one of their expiring contracts (Gabe Vincent or Maxi Kleber), the contracts would match up almost perfectly, even to the extent to where the Lakers would be taking back less than they send out and would thus avoid a hard cap at the first apron. Nothing is particularly imminent at this moment, as the Lakers are still focused first and foremost on trading for their starting center.</p><p>The Lakers have also remained interested in Walker Kessler and will likely remain as such until the end of time, so another possibility some around the league are wondering about is if a bigger deal involving Collins and Kessler could be in the works. Issue there is the Lakers’ lack of draft capital, as sources have indicated the price for Kessler is still quite high.</p><p>A Collins-Hachimura swap would feel like a bit of a side-step for both Utah and L.A. as the players are so similar. They’re both big wings who primarily guard power forwards and space the floor. Hachimura is a little smaller and thus can move his feet better on the perimeter, but Collins’ size helps him rebound more consistently. Collins’ abilities as a vertical threat have made him a little more popular to some in the Lakers organization.</p><p>This isn’t to say Hachimura doesn’t have his share of favorable voices in the Lakers offices. He has improved each season he’s been in the organization. He was one of the few players who truly competed in that fifth and final game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He’s willingly played out of position at times and done so without complaint. The Lakers truly do value what he brings to the table. Those who prefer Collins do so because of the improved fit.</p><p>Since Rob Pelinka and Danny Ainge have taken over in their respective franchises, the Jazz and probably Portland Trail Blazers are probably the teams the Lakers have spent the most time negotiating with. The difference between those teams, obviously, is that Ainge and Pelinka have found a way to actually finalize a deal in the recent past. Does that mean they’ll definitely find a deal this time around? Obviously not, but the NBA is a relationships league, which does mean something in situations like these.</p><figure class="op-interactive"></figure><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Sources: Lakers, Jazz have talked Rui Hachimura, John Collins trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-rumors-rui-hachimura-trade-more-likely-than-not-with-a-catch');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers rumors: Rui Hachimura trade ‘more likely than not,’ with a catch');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Rui-Hachimura-on-April-30-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers rumors: Rui Hachimura trade ‘more likely than not,’ with a catch</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-22T14:05:37-07:00">May 22nd, 2:05pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-22T14:32:42-07:00">May 22nd, 2:32pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/nba-rumors-could-bam-adebayo-andrew-wiggins-be-lakers-trade-targets">Los Angeles Lakers looking for trade targets</a> to improve their team, one piece that is interesting heading into the offseason is Rui Hachimura. As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/nba-rumors-lakers-insider-drops-eye-opening-blazers-intel-on-potential-trade-candidate">Lakers rumors keep piling up</a>, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha spoke about the likelihood of the team keeping Hachimura or trading him elsewhere.</p><p>Someone would ask Buha on a scale of 1 through 10 of Los Angeles trading Hachimura this summer, with the reporter saying “5.5” and that it’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICsYOkPU1r4" rel="noopener">“more likely than not.”</a> He mentioned how one of the key pieces needed on the team is a center with Hachimura likely an asset to getting one.</p><p>“I think they need to look at potentially I think changing the starting lineup, and then it’s a conversation of, is it Rui as the sixth man, or is it Rui going out?” Buha asked on his YouTube channel. “And you’re using that to go get the center or to go get the weight. So to answer your question, right now, I would go like a 5.5. I think it’s maybe more likely than not that Rui is traded, but I think it is pretty close to 50/50 right now.”</p><h2><b>Lakers’ Rui Hachimura likely to be trade piece</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Rui-Hachimura-on-April-25-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While some <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-rumors-insider-sends-austin-reaves-trade-message-to-frustrated-fans">rumors have the Lakers trading Austin Reaves away</a>, Buha would speak on how the team looks at their main stars regarding the defensive side of the ball and just in how they see the immediate future. Buha said it’s Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Reaves being the “pillars of the organization.”</p><p>“Rui [Hachimura], to me, is the pivot point with the Lakers’ offseason because it’s hard to make a substantial upgrade without including him both because of salary and because of his trade value,” Buha said.</p><p>“And I think, if we’re being honest, I don’t think the quartet of LeBron, Luka, Rui, and Austin is good enough defensively. And I think the Lakers have telegraphed that they believe in Luka, LeBron, and Austin as pillars of the organization. That, to me, would indicate them keeping them and starting them.”</p><p>“And there’s always exceptions, and we don’t know yet what LeBron is going to do, though, all indications are he’s likely going to be staying,” Buha continued.</p><p>“So through that lens, I think the optimal way to configure the starting lineup is a center and then a multipositional defensive wing who is better than Rui on the defensive end, and you’re probably going to take a step back offensively because Rui is a good offensive player, and it’s hard to find someone to replace that.”</p><p>It remains to be seen what Los Angeles does with Hachimura, making for an interesting summer ahead.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers rumors: Rui Hachimura trade ‘more likely than not,’ with a catch

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jj-redick-gets-brutally-honest-rui-hachimura-2024-25-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Lakers’ JJ Redick gets brutally honest on Rui Hachimura’s 2024-25 season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Los-Angeles-Lakers-forward-Rui-Hachimura-28-shoots-against-the-Minnesota-Timberwolves-during-the-first-half-in-game-five-of-first-round-for-the-2025-NBA-Playoffs-at-Crypto.com-Arena.jpg"><figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Lakers’ JJ Redick gets brutally honest on Rui Hachimura’s 2024-25 season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-01T16:53:45-07:00">May 1st, 4:53pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-01T16:53:45-07:00">May 1st, 4:53pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-most-to-blame-for-pathetic-series-loss-to-timberwolves">Los Angeles Lakers’ early playoff exit</a>, head coach JJ Redick had high remarks for Rui Hachimura’s improvement throughout the past year.</p><p>The Lakers saw their season end on Wednesday night, losing 4-1 in their first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite the team’s struggles to keep up with their opponents, Hachimura turned out to be one of their bright spots. He averaged 14.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on 49.1% shooting from the field, including 48.4% from beyond the arc.</p><p>Redicks reflected on Hachimura’s performances throughout the season and playoffs, per team reporter Mike Trudell. He <a href="https://x.com/LakersReporter/status/1918016035472691240" rel="noopener">praised him for being an importance piece</a> in the Lakers’ success throughout the regular season, which helped them secure the third seed in the Western Conference.</p><p>“I thought Rui had an outstanding season, and he was incredibly important to what we were able to do this year. He was a vital cog on both sides of the ball. The games that he missed, it was apparent to the coaching staff how valuable he was. Particularly in the last two games, I thought he played extremely well in the playoffs,” Redick said.</p><p>“I’m excited to see his growth. I think some of that is paint decision making, some of that is working on his handles and his closeouts. But for a guy, of all the guys that we laid out what we expect from them, what we’re asking them to do and starring in their role, he’s up there at the top of the list. That’s embracing that and starring in that role all year.”</p><h2><b>What’s next for Rui Hachimura, Lakers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Los-Angeles-Lakers-forward-Rui-Hachimura.jpg"><figcaption>Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>With his overall performances throughout the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-rui-hachimuras-sobering-6-word-message-sums-up-las-game-5-woes">2024-25 regular season and playoffs, Rui Hachimura</a> may have secured himself a spot on JJ Redick’s Lakers roster next season.</p><p>The Lakers will be focused on revamping the squad in the offseason to surround Luka Doncic and LeBron James with the best talent possible. Hachimura could be in the picture, given his versatility on both sides of the ball that has benefitted Los Angeles since he joined in 2023.</p><p>Next season will be a big test for the squad when it comes to their championship aspirations. Minnesota exposed their weaknesses throughout the playoff series, including lack of depth at the center position and bench scoring.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/lakers-news-rob-pelinka-offseason-needs-luka-doncic-trade">Lakers will be busy throughout the 2025 offseason</a>, whether it’s in free agency, trades, or the upcoming NBA Draft. Nonetheless, they have a lot to look forward to in the long term.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Lakers’ JJ Redick gets brutally honest on Rui Hachimura’s 2024-25 season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-rui-hachimuras-sobering-6-word-message-sums-up-las-game-5-woes');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rui Hachimura’s sobering 6-word message sums up Lakers’ Game 5 woes');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lakers-forward-Rui-Hachimura-28-looks-on.jpg"><figcaption>© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Rui Hachimura’s sobering 6-word message sums up Lakers’ Game 5 woes</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-01T00:32:20-07:00">May 1st, 12:32am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-01T00:34:13-07:00">May 1st, 12:34am</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>What started off as such a promising season has ended in yet another heartbreak for the Los Angeles Lakers. On Wednesday night, they were eliminated from the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 103-96 win in Game 5 of their first-round matchup. This is shaping up to be a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-lebron-james-ducks-retirement-question-game-5-loss-i-dont-know">crucial offseason for the Lakers</a>, although they will at least now get a proper opportunity to build a roster that fits well around Luka Doncic.</p><p>In an admission of defeat, Lakers forward Rui Hachimura <a href="https://twitter.com/big_business_/status/1917813068840550557" rel="noopener">could not have summed up better</a> what went wrong for them in their elimination-game loss.</p><p>“We need somebody to get rebounds,” Hachimura said in his postgame presser, via @big_business_on X (formerly Twitter). “I got to be one of them. … I can’t just be face-to-face, posting up Gobert the whole game. I can’t get a rebound. That’s the whole thing. He’s 7’2″, 7’5″ wingspan, whatever. He’s a big man.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"we need somebody to get rebounds"</p><p>-Rui Hachimura on the Wolves vs Lakers series </p><p> <a href="https://t.co/WTCA2wtfc4">pic.twitter.com/WTCA2wtfc4</a></p><p>— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) <a href="https://twitter.com/big_business_/status/1917813068840550557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>This was a major problem for the Lakers following the Anthony Davis trade, and they tried to rectify the situation by acquiring Mark Williams. But then Williams (purportedly) didn’t pass his physical and the Lakers decided to just push through to the rest of the season with Jaxson Hayes as the only nominal center in their rotation. Alex Len didn’t provide any help whatsoever, while Christian Koloko and Trey Jemison aren’t exactly those any contending team would want to rely on in the playoffs.</p><h2>Lakers tried to plug one leak and ended up opening up other holes</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Timberwolves-center-Rudy-Gobert-gets-the-rebound-against-Lakers-guard-Austin-Reaves.jpg"><figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Timberwolves exposed the Lakers’ Achilles heel all series long; lacking a true center (or even a big man, for that matter) to combat the Timberwolves’ size, the Lakers had to resort to double-teaming on the perimeter and playing a sort of zone defense to prevent Minnesota from launching an all-out assault on the paint.</p><p>But even with Minnesota building a house with all the bricks they threw up in Game 5, they still managed to escape with a win on the road thanks to their dominance on the glass that had <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/minnesota-timberwolves/timberwolves-news-rudy-gobert-joins-shaq-wilt-nba-legends-domination-lakers">Rudy Gobert looking like Wilt Chamberlain</a> out on the court.</p><p>“The problem was, I think, ‘coz we trying to help cover, put on two guys, and the other guy diving into the offensive rebound and it’s easy. Gobert’s not the only guy who can get rebounds for them. Most of their starting five except Mike Conley can get a rebound. That was the game,” Hachimura added.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
13.1	5.0	1.4	0.4	0.8

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
13.1	5.0	1.4	0.4	0.8

Rui Hachimura

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