Small forward Rui Hachimura was on ESPN before Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets on June 9 and the swingman talked about his 2022-23 season with the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Lakers.
“The reason why I requested the trade is that I wanted to be somewhere I could be happy and play basketball, that liked me as a basketball player, that believed in me, and the Lakers were one of the teams that was really interested in me,” Hachimura said. “My agent and the team did a good job, and I went to the Lakers, and it was a crazy season for me.”
The Lakers acquired Hachimura from the Wizards for guard Kendrick Nunn and draft picks. The Gonzaga product averaged 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 33 regular-season games with Los Angeles. The 25-year-old then took his game to another level in the 2023 playoffs.
Hachimura averaged 12.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 16 games versus the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets. The talented scorer becomes a restricted free agent this offseason.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Rui Hachimura & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
“Back at that time, we didn’t even know we were going to make the playoffs,” Hachimura said. “So we made the playoffs and the playoff run was pretty good. We lost to Denver, but it was pretty good for us. I don’t know my future, but I just want to be somewhere I can be happy. The Lakers have been good and we’re going to see.”
The Lakers plan to re-sign Hachimura and guard Austin Reaves this offseason in restricted free agency. Both players helped the purple and gold reach the Western Conference Finals.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Rui Hachimura & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Even though the Lakers got swept by the Nuggets in the Conference Finals, it was still a successful season for the LakeShow, who began the campaign 2-10.
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