Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura reached the 5,000-point mark for his career during the team’s recent win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena.
The 28-year-old hit the milestone in a game filled with notable achievements for Los Angeles. While LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time leader in regular-season victories and head coach JJ Redick secured his 100th coaching win, Hachimura quietly added another personal highlight to a rapidly growing résumé.
Since joining the Lakers in 2023, Hachimura has become a critical part of the rotation. After spending most of his Los Angeles tenure as a starter, he shifted to a bench role this season and is shooting better than 43 percent from three-point range—his third consecutive campaign above 41 percent.
Embracing a Supporting Role
Hachimura credited the locker-room veterans for helping the roster find cohesion. “I think it starts with LeBron, Luka, Austin, Marcus,” he said, naming James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart. “Throughout the season we started understanding each other off the court and on the court. We have better communication now and that helps. We gotta keep building it for the playoffs and we’re gonna be fine.”
Playoff Focus Ahead
Los Angeles has surged lately, with Dončić breaking Kobe Bryant’s franchise record for points in the month of March and joining Michael Jordan as the only players in league history to reach 600 points in that span. As the Lakers eye the postseason, the club expects Hachimura’s scoring punch and improved defense to remain pivotal.
Source: Lakers Nation
