8 2024 Summer Olympians with Los Angeles Lakers ties

4. Rui Hachimura, Japan

Rui Hachimura adds to the list of active Los Angeles Lakers who will represent their country at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He's off to a phenomenal start to international play with showings for Japan that have him among the best individual performers of the exhibition stage thus far.

Expected to play a crucial role for a Lakers team that needs him to take a step forward in 2024-25, Hachimura is showcasing his full potential on the international stage.

Hachimura has been scoring at will for Japan in the games leading up to the Olympics. Most recently, he erupted against Nikola Jokic and Serbia to the tune of 29 points and five three-point field goals made—on brand considering his propensity to go off in the NBA.

Hachimura also tallied 19 points against Germany, which continues the longstanding trend of producing big-time performances for his country.

Despite the inconsistency in his role, Hachimura produced a tremendous season for the Lakers in 2023-24. He averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.4 three-point field goals made on 53.7 percent shooting from the field and a mark of 42.2 percent from beyond the arc.

If Hachimura's performances with Japan are a sign of things to come, then he could take a massive leap forward with the Lakers in 2024-25.