Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick singled out forward Rui Hachimura for what he called “the two biggest plays” in the team’s 118-116 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on November 5, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena.
With LeBron James sidelined by a sciatica issue, Hachimura logged 15 points and two rebounds, delivering a critical three-pointer in the fourth quarter and later drawing an offensive foul on rookie Victor Wembanyama.
“I thought Rui made the two biggest plays of the game,” Redick told reporters. “He can go eight minutes—sometimes 30 minutes of real time—without touching the ball and then hit a wide-open three. And the charge on Wemby, his eighth charge of his entire career, was the biggest one yet.”
Hachimura, acquired by Los Angeles during the 2022-23 season, has developed into a reliable perimeter threat, a skill that proved vital in James’s absence. The 27-year-old is in the final season of a three-year, $51 million contract and acknowledged during preseason that he needed to become more aggressive offensively while the Lakers’ star forward recovers.
This season also carries roster implications for Los Angeles. The organization is expected to examine trade options ahead of the deadline, and Hachimura’s expiring deal has placed him in several speculative scenarios. Despite the uncertainty, the forward has emphasized that his priority remains helping the Lakers contend.
The win moved Los Angeles to 4-2 on the young campaign. The team completes a two-game homestand on November 7 against the Phoenix Suns.
Source: Lakers Nation
