Rui Hachimura Thanks Lakers Fans After Signing Two-Year Deal With Clippers
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Los Angeles forward Rui Hachimura is leaving the Lakers after agreeing to a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, and he used social media on July 6, 2026, to thank Lakers supporters for their backing during his nearly four-season stay.
Hachimura’s departure ends a stretch in which the 28-year-old evolved into one of the league’s most reliable long-range shooters. He set a Lakers single-season record for three-point percentage during the 2025-26 regular season, then broke the NBA playoff mark for three-point accuracy while increasing his scoring workload amid team injuries.
The Lakers, now constructing their roster around superstar Luka Doncic, did not view Hachimura as the optimal fit moving forward. This offseason the club has added center Walker Kessler and guards Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili but still lacks a defensive-minded wing.
League sources indicate the front office targeted former Warriors and Hawks wing Jonathan Kuminga as its preferred option even before Hachimura chose the Clippers, maintaining contact with him throughout free agency.
While Hachimura remains in Los Angeles to begin the next chapter of his career, the Lakers continue searching for a replacement capable of matching the shooting and playoff poise he provided.
Source: Lakers Nation
