Rui Hachimura and the Los Angeles Lakers struggled against the Phoenix Suns on Monday, with the team unable to overcome a strong defensive effort from their opponents. The Suns forced multiple turnovers and capitalized on transition opportunities, leaving the Lakers behind throughout much of the game.
Hachimura, who has been a regular starter for the Lakers this season, experienced his least productive performance so far. He played 23 minutes but managed only one shot attempt, finishing with zero points and one rebound.
After the loss, Hachimura spoke about his limited involvement in the offense and emphasized that ball movement is essential for team success. “I don’t remember when I had the ball this whole game. I mean, that’s happened,” Hachimura said. “Playing with these guys, I signed up for that. I understand it… But with this, I think the whole team, everyone knows and understands, that’s not how we’re gonna win. Those games that we’ve been winning, we’ve been passing to each other, we’ve been trusting each other and playing for each other to win those games. So it’s a tough one for me, but it is what it is. It’s one of those games where I gotta just [forget it] and move on to the next game.”
Hachimura indicated that playmaking often runs through teammates like Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James. This dynamic can make it difficult for him to create scoring chances unless he receives more touches during offensive sets.
While Hachimura has placed greater focus on defense this season—an area where he has shown improvement—his offensive production remains important as Los Angeles faces a challenging schedule ahead in a competitive Western Conference.
Both Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart have acknowledged Hachimura’s increased effort on both ends of the court during this campaign.
