If Rui Hachimura wants to stick with the Los Angeles Lakers long-term and thrive, it will not be because of his jump shot. It will not be about isolation scoring or highlight dunks either. It will be about rebounding, especially on the defensive end of the floor and doing the little things that this team needs.
Rui Hachimura needs to hit the glass if he wants consistent minutes
With LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves leading the offense, there is no expectation for Hachimura to carry a heavy scoring load. The Lakers need complementary pieces.
That means players who are sharp on defense, can rebound in small-ball lineups, and take pressure off the stars. Right now, that is where Hachimura still has room to grow.
As Jovan Buha put it on Buha’s Block, “He has regressed as a defensive rebounder… and the interesting thing is he’s actually played more big over the last couple seasons.”
In other words, Hachimura’s job has shifted closer to the rim, but his numbers have not followed.
At the start his career while he was on the Washington Wizards, Hachimura averaged 4.5 and 4.6 defensive rebounds in his first two seasons. Since coming to Los Angeles, that number has dropped to around 3.7, a surprising dip, especially for someone often playing power forward or even small-ball center.
Buha also noted, “Sometimes the boxing out, the awareness, and just the chasing the ball can be better with Rui.”
It is not about becoming a dominant rebounder, just a more active one.
To be fair, he has improved as an offensive rebounder. He is a touch above average in that area and brings value with his physicality. In small lineups, it is the defensive boards that prevent second chances, and that is where he has to lock in.
Last season, Hachimura averaged 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds on 50.9 percent shooting and an excellent 41.3 percent from beyond the arc. He is clearly efficient and productive, but those numbers will unfortunately not matter if his role shrinks.
With Deandre Ayton joining the mix, Jared Vanderbilt healthy again, and Jaxson Hayes re-signed to a new deal, minutes in the frontcourt will be competitive. With one year left on his $18 million deal, Hachimura’s name is bound to come up in trade rumors.
To stay in the Lakers' plans, he has to show impact in areas that do not depend on touches. Rebounding might not be the most exciting part of the job, but for Hachimura, it might have to be the most important.