Rui Hachimura Working to Regain Rhythm After Calf Injury
rui-hachimura-working-to-regain-rhythm-after-calf-injury
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura said he is still searching for his usual rhythm as the team carefully manages his return from a recent calf strain.
Hachimura logged 10 points off the bench in the Lakers’ 123-117 win over the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 18, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. It was his second consecutive game in double figures since coming back, but the 28-year-old remains on a minutes restriction.
“I’m still on a minutes restriction and still trying to get back to my rhythm,” Hachimura told reporters after the game. “But nights like this help me. It’s a long season—we’re at the halfway point—so we have to connect to each other again.”
Hachimura missed several games earlier in the month with the calf injury and continues to receive treatment. He emphasized that the leg feels sound but acknowledged the need for caution. The Lakers are taking a similar approach with guard Austin Reaves, who is managing his own calf issue.
Los Angeles begins an eight-game road trip Tuesday in Denver, a stretch Hachimura called “a big game” in the midst of a pivotal portion of the schedule. Head coach JJ Redick has brought the forward off the bench since his return, a role that could persist even after his playing-time cap is lifted.
Before the injury, Hachimura had emerged as the Lakers’ most consistent three-point shooter while also improving his rebounding and defense. Team officials consider his full recovery essential to sustaining momentum during the second half of the season.
Redick also singled out forward Jarred Vanderbilt for “starring in his role” over the past month, crediting Vanderbilt’s defense and energy as critical to recent victories.
The Lakers will have one day off before traveling to face the Nuggets, where Hachimura hopes to continue rebuilding his timing and providing the scoring punch and physical presence that has made him an integral part of the rotation.
Source: Lakers Nation
