Why the Ninth Pick in the 2019 NBA Draft Can Quietly Breakout This Season
The Los Angeles Lakers are 1-1 after winning their first game on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, 128-110. After losing their first game to the Golden State Warriors, 119-109, the purple and gold were able to pick their heads up against a good Timberwolves team, led by their depth and star players. Luka Dončić scored 49 points in the win, and after his 43-point performance in the first game, he broke a Lakers record, having the most points by a Lakers player in the first two games of the season, with a total of 92 points. Although Dončić has been playing MVP-like basketball alongside star teammate Austin Reaves, another player has been stepping up, hitting three-pointers and stepping up his scoring, with star player LeBron James sidelined by injury.
Rui Hachimura has always been an underrated player for the Lakers, serving as a key starter. Against Minnesota, he scored 23 points, shooting 10 of 13 from the field and two of four from three. He also went three for six from three-point range against the Warriors in his first game for nine points. In the playoffs last year against the Timberwolves, he stepped up with big shooting performances, particularly from three-point range. Hachimura is a 40%+ three-point shooter since joining the Lakers, and he can step up to hit a bucket, primarily when star players Dončić, James, and Reaves draw more attention from opposing defenses.
In Games Four and Five during the First Round against the Timberwolves, Hachimura scored 23 points in back-to-back games. In both of those games, he played over 39 minutes and shot nine for 16 from the field. Although it was a disappointing way to end the season for the Lakers, the 2019 draft pick showcased his ability to step up on the biggest stage and deliver. Without his ability to shoot and be a sneaky scorer, the purple and gold would have a hard time finding another player to step up on offense if Luka, LeBron, and AR struggle or do not play.
Especially with “King James” out of the lineup for about three to four weeks, he will have an elevated workload at the forward position to do some more scoring and help the team win. Dončić has had a historic start to the 2025-26 NBA season, and with a 1-1 start, the Lakers are looking to win more games and move on from their first loss of the season. Their next game is tonight against the Sacramento Kings on the road at 9:00 p.m. EST before they head back home for a back-to-back game on Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers at 10:30 p.m. EST. With an early back-to-back, expect head coach J.J. Redick to sit out or minimize his star players like Luka and Reaves, which can open up a big game for Rui Hachimura in both of those games.
