Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick believes forward Rui Hachimura is returning to early-season form after three productive outings off the bench.
Speaking following the Lakers’ 141-132 victory over the Chicago Bulls at United Center on Jan. 26, 2026, Redick praised his second unit and highlighted Hachimura’s recent surge. “Our bench was terrific,” he said during the Spectrum SportsNet postgame interview. “Rui looks like he’s back in rhythm.”
Hachimura, 28, has averaged 17.3 points while shooting 57.1 percent from the floor and 52.6 percent from three-point range over his last three appearances. The stretch follows an 11-game span in which he missed nine contests because of injury and struggled to find consistency when he returned to the starting lineup.
Redick noted that Hachimura’s defensive effort has also improved, citing strong rotations as the low man in recent matchups against Dallas and Chicago. Asked whether the move to the bench has contributed to the turnaround, Redick said it depends on opposing pick-and-roll coverages but added that the coaching staff has designed out-of-bounds and off-ball actions to ensure the forward remains involved.
Since arriving in Los Angeles, Hachimura has primarily started, but with LeBron James back in the lineup and Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves handling most of the playmaking duties, his minutes now come with the reserve group. The former first-round pick has indicated he is willing to remain in that role if it benefits the team.
Source: LakersNation.com
