Rui Hachimura reveals key ‘focus’ for 2024-25 season

LOS ANGELES – When the Los Angeles Lakers begin the 2024-25 season this week, one player they will need to have a big year is Rui Hachimura. Although he has not played in the last two preseason games, he is expected to be ready for the start of the season. And a key area of ​​improvement for Rui Hachimura that the coaching staff hopes to see is his rebounding ability.

At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, Hachimura should be one of the best rebounders on the Lakers’ roster. During a media availability session after Sunday’s practice, he talked about the work he’s done so far to become more of a force on the glass.

“I’m just trying to be more aggressive on defensive rebounds, and especially on offensive rebounds. Offensive rebounds, there’s more movement, so I can crash offensive rebounds. It’s easier for me to get to when I have to go or not,” Hachimura said. “And also on defense, when I get a defensive rebound I can just push the ball. I just have to focus on that.”

Last season, Rui Hachimura averaged 4.3 rebounds per game for the Lakers. That just won’t cut it. During the last preseason game he played against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 15, he pulled down nine rebounds. That’s more in line with what should be close to average during the regular season.

Hachimura has a career average of 4.8 rebounds. His career high came during his rookie season with the Washington Wizards in 2019-20, when he averaged 6.1.

Rui Hachimura will be ready for the first game of the Lakers

Although Hachimura has sat out the Lakers’ last two preseason games, he will be in the lineup and ready to play when they open the season on Oct. 22 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He told the media gathered at practice on Sunday that he went through a full practice and is fine. He’s expected to be the other starting power forward alongside LeBron James, reprising a role he’s played essentially since arriving on the team.

With the Lakers’ roster essentially the same as last season and new head coach JJ Redick being the main offseason acquisition, Hachimura believes chemistry will be key to any success the Lakers hope to have this year.

“With these guys, we’ve been building our chemistry, it’s been basically like a third season, so I think we’ve got some kind of chemistry here already,” Hachimura said. “We have been practicing. . .I think we had a pretty good preseason. I know the results weren’t really good, but I think we got something we wanted.”

Last year, Hachimura’s role often fluctuated with former head coach Darvin Ham. He went from being a key starter on a Western Conference Finals team in 2022-23 to drifting in and out of the starting lineup. He played in 68 games, but only started 39.

During the Lakers’ first-round playoff exit against the Denver Nuggets, he averaged 7.8 points and 3.8 rebounds on 39.5 percent shooting from the field, 36.7 percent from of shots from the three-point line and 50 percent of shots from the free throw line.