Rui Hachimura, a forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, has been working to regain his form following a recent calf injury. Known for his development as the team’s top three-point shooter and improvements in rebounding and defense, Hachimura’s absence was noticeable during his recovery.
Since returning, he has been under a minutes restriction and coming off the bench. In the Lakers’ recent win over the Toronto Raptors, Hachimura scored 10 points—his second consecutive game with double-digit scoring.
After the game, Hachimura addressed his ongoing recovery process. “I’m still on a minutes restriction and still trying to get back to my rhythm,” he said. “But those kinds of stuff helps me. It’s a long season, we’re at the halfway point. So yeah, as a team we have to connect to each other again. I think we have one day rest, whatever that is, but we gotta rest tomorrow and get back on Tuesday against Denver. That’s gonna be a big game too.”
The upcoming match against the Denver Nuggets will start an eight-game road trip for the Lakers. The team hopes Hachimura can return to his early-season form as they enter this stretch of games. He added about his condition: “I’m fine. Just still getting back into my rhythm. With the calf, still getting treatment and all that, so yeah, gotta keep doing it.”
Calf injuries remain a concern for the team; Austin Reaves is also managing a similar issue. The Lakers are being careful with their players’ health to ensure full recovery before increasing their playing time.
Hachimura’s role may continue off the bench even after restrictions are lifted, but coaches expect his contributions in scoring and physical play will benefit the team overall.
Additionally, head coach JJ Redick recently highlighted Jarred Vanderbilt’s impact in defensive roles over the past month: “JJ Redick praised [Vanderbilt] for being a star in his role over the past month.”
