LOS ANGELES — The LA Clippers surprised many when they signed Rui Hachimura to a multi-year contract this summer, with the Japanese sharpshooting forward electing to leave the Los Angeles Lakers and join their crosstown rivals.
Hachimura joined Clippers out of wanting to stay in Los Angeles and to take on a new challenge: seeing if he can expand his game in a different situation. Over the last three seasons, Hachimura had been on a Lakers team led by the likes of LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, and Austin Reaves.
With so many ball-dominant stars and elite playmakers leading the way, Hachimura fell into whatever role needed him to play.
“They think that [only] one season, I was good, but I keep doing it,” Hachimura told ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview. “I consistently — like three years in a row — was shooting 45 percent on threes and 50 or 60 percent from mid-range, and I was always top five in shooting for three years. It's, of course, because of the team and how we operated. We had LeBron [James], [Anthony Davis], Luka [Doncic].
“But also, it's tough to play for the Lakers. It's a big crowd, big shine. The lights are brighter. The thing I always say is that I've always had that, but it's just what the team's situation is. I have to adjust. I can fit in, to any type of team, but I think that's the one thing that people always talk about. I have more than that to my game, yes, but I always play for the team wherever I'm at, so whatever they ask me to do, I do.”
Hachimura was traded to Los Angeles to be a complementary piece to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He was an even greater fit for the team's needs when 25-year old Luka Doncic was inexplicably given away for 31-year old Davis in February 2025.
When the Lakers were whole, Hachimura would play one role. When they were missing one or two lead guys, it would turn into another. So while everyone may not know just much there is to Hachimura's game, those around him have seen it.
“I feel like the people around me know,” Hachimura explained. “They always say that they're always watching me. Even last year, when those three guys played, Austin, LeBron, Luka, it's tough to get the ball, but when one guy or two guys are out, I always show up. I was the number one scorer too, so I always show up, whatever they need. I always prove that I'm always ready to be in that position.
“For me, right now with the Clippers' situation, I've got to be the guy to be aggressive. They're telling me that and they've been working, they've been communicating, that's what I've talked about. They've been communicating the position, the spot, because I told them I need them to be in the right spot. I can't run point guard, so if got to put me in the right spot, then I'll be fine.”
Over his last three seasons, Hachimura has shot the lights out of the basketball, making 42.6 percent of his three-point shots and 52.1 percent of his field goal attempts. The efficiency with which Hachimura plays, however, has been the most impressive part of his game. Over the last three seasons with the Lakers, Hachimura shot 51.3 percent from 10-16 feet and 47.7 percent on two-pointers 16 feet out.
Now, Hachimura is a featured player on a Clippers team that is currently dealing with injuries to start their regular season. Darius Garland and Hachimura are the team's primary offensive hubs, and that means increased attention on the two of them. But head coach Tyronn Lue has been impressed with what he's seen out of Hachimura thus far despite the shooting struggles.
“We can use him in a lot of different ways,” Lue said, who added that one of his goals for Hachimura is to average eight rebounds a night. “You saw how we've been using him these first two games and in training camp. But also with Rui, we just gotta make sure we're getting him to his spots and that he's able to catch the ball in his spots, so he's owning his space. But he's shown that he's also a great passer, once he's double-teamed and teams are helping, he knows how to make the right play.”
The Clippers are notably playing without Brandon Ingram, Bradley Beal, and Jordan Miller, players who were largely expected to have significant ball-handling duties on this Clippers roster. Add in the absence of 3-and-D wing Max Strus, and defenses are having an easier time locking in on Hachimura.
Through three games, Hachimura has struggled shooting just 30 percent from the field, but has shot 38.5 percent from three on 6.5 attempts per game. He's gotten to spots on the floor he considers comfortable, so he expects those shots to go down. As he tries to find way and bring his efficient game to a new team, he's also showcasing his aggressiveness as well as his playmaking on a heightened level.
“I think my playmaking decisions [are underrated],” Rui said. “I'm good at that too. I'm good at passing out the double-team. Those kinds of things, I'm actually good at it. I can see the court from a double team.”
Article Continues Below“Sometimes you have to sacrifice to be aggressive. Somebody, like I said last year, there's a couple guys out like this, too. I've got to be aggressive for the team to win. That's the thing. Whatever they ask, whatever they need, whatever I think I feel like I need, I have to do it. It's not about only, oh, I'm going to be less touching. Those are sacrifices. Sometimes I have to be more aggressive to help the team win. Even the playoffs, you guys see that. Everybody was out. Austin was out. Luka was out. Now what? I've got to be aggressive. That's the thing that I always pay attention and look for.”
JJ Redick, who took over as head as head coach of the Lakers during Hachimura's tenure, called Hachimura one of his favorite players he's ever coached.
“Rui continued to develop as an unbelievable shooter,” Redick said. “I think, especially that first year, he had a great defensive season for us. Last year, there were like a lot of just random games to be honest with you. The different lineups that we had to play last year, the different starting lineups we had to play due to injuries. We never really found consistency and I think we suffered as a whole defensively because of that, but Rui in terms of his offensive packaging and becoming one of the best shooters in the NBA, we got him at a good point in his career, [Coach] Beau Levesque did a great job with him of continuing to develop that and having that laser mentality. Obviously his mid-range game is great.
“He's one of my favorite players I've ever been around in the NBA and one of my favorite players I've ever coached, and it's because of just the consistency of joy and personality that he brings every day.”
While Rui Hachimura is still getting acclimated to his new role on a new team that's still learning one another, there is a clear pecking order with an understanding of each player's responsibilities. For the eighth year forward out of Gonzaga, his job is pretty clear.
“I've got to be aggressive for the team to win. That's the thing. Whatever they ask, whatever they need, whatever I think I feel like I need, I have to do it. It's not about only, ‘oh, I'm going to be getting less touches. Those are sacrifices. Sometimes I have to be more aggressive to help the team win. Even the playoffs, you guys see that. Everybody was out. Austin was out. Luka was out. Now what? I've got to be aggressive. That's the thing that I always pay attention and look for.”