Rui Hachimura has proven to be a fine role player for the Los Angeles Lakers over the last year and a half, but Patrick Beverley believes he is capable of doing even more. On The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone , Beverley stated Hachimura needs to change his mindset if he is to become the x-factor for the Lakers.
"Rui, he a good basketball player... 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*** it, we gonna put him x-factor.
"He needs to do more," Beverley continued. "His attitude needs to be way tougher. He has to come in like, 'I'm the second option.' His mindset has to be, 'Yeah, it's (Anthony Davis) here, it's LeBron (James) here, it's Austin Reaves here, it's (D'Angelo Russell) here but nah. AD gettin it, I’m the second option.' That has to be his mindset because they do need that.
"What made them successful that Bubble year? Kyle Kuzma," Beverley added. "A wing with size that can put the ball on the floor, and people used to clown Kyle 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 going to take at the end of the game."
Beverley briefly played with Hachimura on the Lakers in 2023 and noted he isn't really a gunner like Kyle Kuzma. If his shot isn't going in, the Japanese forward isn't likely to keep at it and his former teammate wants to see that change.
Beverley wants Hachimura to be more assertive on the court and play with delusional confidence. The veteran firmly believes it will help him take a big leap in 2024-25.
While I am not sure Hachimura should have the mindset that he is the second option for the Lakers, he does need to be a bit more assertive on the court, especially in the big moments. The 26-year-old averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game in the 2023-24 regular season, but went missing in the playoffs.
Hachimura put up just 7.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game in the first round series against the Denver Nuggets, as the Lakers lost in five games. He attempted just four shots in both Games 1 and 3 and that was just not enough when you're the fourth highest-paid player on the team behind LeBron James , Anthony Davis , and D'Angelo Russell.
Speaking of D'Angelo Russell, he too had his struggles in that series against the Nuggets. Russell even went scoreless in Game 3 and his stock is at an all-time low at this point.
Despite how Russell's season ended, Beverley stated in this episode that he is confident he will take a leap next season. The 36-year-old added that he thinks Austin Reaves will get better too. If Hachimura, Russell, and Reaves all end up having impressive campaigns, then the Lakers will make some noise in a strong Western Conference, but that's a big if.
Related: Patrick Beverley Explains The Problem Lakers Players Face With The Fanbase
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