Injuries were a significant factor in the Los Angeles Lakers' early exit in last season's playoffs. The Lakers saw role players like Gabe Vincent, Jared Vanderbilt, Christian Wood, and Cam Reddish miss a significant number of games due to health issues.
Going into the 2024-25 season, many believe that if the supporting cast can return to 100% fitness and their stars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, continue to stay away from harm's way, the Purple and Gold can compete with the best teams in the NBA.
However, aside from health, former Lakers guard Patrick Beverley believes that forward Rui Hachimura has to step up for Los Angeles.
"Rui. He is a good basketball player. But I don't--he's not the x-factor to me," Beverley said. "Actually, you know what, he should be the x-factor because he gets paid as the x-factor should be. So yeah, f**k it, we gon' put him x-factor. He needs to do more. He has to come in like, 'I'm the second option. His mindset has to be, 'It's AD here, it's LeBron here, it's Austin Reaves here, it's DLo here, but nah. AD gettin it, I'm the second option.'"
Rui needs to be Kuzma
Hachimura was a key contributor for the Lakers during their 2023 playoff run, which resulted in them reaching the Western Conference Finals. That summer, he signed a three-year $51 million extension with the Purple and Gold.
This past season, Rui averaged 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds while making a career-high 1.5 three-pointers per game at a very high 42.2% shooting clip. However, his numbers dropped during the 2024 playoffs, when the Japan international put up just 7.8 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game with just one three-point make per game at 35.7% 3P%. If the Lakers are to contend next season, Pat Bev says Hachimura needs to emulate Kyle Kuzma 's role from 2020.
"What made them successful that Bubble Year - Kyle Kuzma," added Pat Bev. "A wing with size that can put the ball on the floor, and people used to clown Kuzma, because he used to take some tough shots, but you need some balls like that. Because the same shot you take in the regular season that look tough is the same shot you go take at the end of the game."
Related: "It's just like a good friend saying we cannot hang out anymore" - Magic Johnson on Karl Malone refusing to play with him in the 1992 ASG
Redick bared plans for Rui
Beverley may be right on cue as Hachimura was one of the players that incoming head coach JJ Redick talked about during his introductory press conference in June. According to Redick, Rui had a great first full season in L.A., and JJ envisions him having a bigger role next season.
"I thought he had a fantastic year last year," Redick said . "For him, in terms of him and how envision him on this team, I want him shooting more threes. I brought up the offensive rebounding; I think he can be an elite offensive rebounder ... Rui can be an excellent cutter, and part of that is because we're going to manipulate screening angles, he's gonna get mismatches, and he can really score at the basket if he has smaller players on him."
Rui is a much better career three-point shooter than Kuz. If Redick can make him shoot more threes next season, that's big for both him and the Lakers. Big things were expected from Hachimura when the Wizards drafted him 9th overall in 2019. Let's hope JJ can maximize his talents in L.A.
Related: “Reminds me of this guy I coached in Toronto” - Phil Handy compares Rui Hachimura to Kawhi Leonard
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