Rui Hachimura has become an important swing factor for the Los Angeles Lakers as they move deeper into the playoffs. His outside shooting and mid-range scoring give the Lakers a reliable offensive option when defenses load up on LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
That value has also earned him an eye-catching nickname from fellow Gonzaga alum Chet Holmgren. When speaking with Michael Martin of Let’s Talk Thunder, Holmgren joked that Hachimura can look like “Japanese Jordan sometimes” because of his turnaround shots and scoring bursts.
Holmgren’s respect for Hachimura is clear
Holmgren did not stop at the nickname and quickly clarified that Hachimura is simply a difficult scorer to handle. He said Hachimura is “a talented guy” who can “make shots in bunches if you let him,” which reflects the Lakers forward’s ability to change a game with a short scoring run.
That assessment matters because Oklahoma City’s defense is built to take away comfort. The Thunder bring physical perimeter defense, while Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein help protect the paint, forcing opponents to work for clean looks.
Why Hachimura matters for the Lakers
Los Angeles may need Hachimura to do more than just space the floor against Oklahoma City. After struggling to stretch the defense against the Houston Rockets, the Lakers need consistent perimeter shooting to create driving lanes and prevent the Thunder from packing the paint.
Hachimura has delivered in that role during the postseason, hitting 58.6% from 3-point range. That kind of efficiency gives the Lakers a legitimate secondary threat, especially when opponents focus heavily on the team’s star creators.
The matchup can shape his shot selection
Who guards Hachimura remains an important question, and one possibility is that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could end up on him. If a smaller defender is matched against him, Hachimura may need to act quickly and decisively, whether that means taking the jumper right away or going into a dribble pull-up from mid-range.
That approach fits what the Lakers need against a disciplined team like Oklahoma City. The Thunder want to force hesitation, so Los Angeles must stay aggressive and avoid giving their defense time to settle into each possession.
A lesson from the last series
Hachimura also recently showed how the Lakers can respond when pressure rises. After the Rockets won two straight and forced Los Angeles to close out the series on the road, Hachimura said the team treated Game 6 “as their Game 7.”
That mindset worked, and the Lakers responded with a 20-point win. The same level of urgency could matter again if they want Hachimura’s scoring to stay effective against a Thunder defense that is unlikely to give him easy looks.
