Hachimura faces Lakers again as new Clipper

Rui Hachimura returned to Crypto.com Arena on Friday night for the first time in five months, walking onto the court as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. The 2019 first-round pick, who spent three and a half seasons with the Lakers, greeted familiar faces during pregame warmups. He joked with Luka Doncic and embraced Austin Reaves before receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.

Hachimura signed a two-year, $28 million contract with the Clippers in July. The deal marked the end of his tenure with the Lakers, a franchise that acquired him from the Wizards in January 2023. The Lakers released him as part of a roster reconstruction focused on Doncic and Reaves. They acquired Walker Kessler and eight other players while relinquishing cap holds for several free agents, including Hachimura.

Hachimura described the departure as difficult in an interview with the California Post. He noted that this was his second free agency and that he had hoped to secure an extension with Los Angeles. "It was tough," Hachimura said. "That was my point." He stated that he did not know if the Lakers made a formal offer after his previous three-year, $51 million deal expired in late June. He added, "It's on them. It wasn't me. It was them."

Hachimura's camp pursued a sign-and-trade deal that would have allowed him to sign a longer contract with the Clippers. The Lakers did not participate in the trade, so Hachimura signed with Los Angeles outright. He confirmed that an agreement was reached early in free agency, stating, "It was already done. I just didn't do it right away."

The former Gonzaga player will not play in the Clippers' matchup against the Lakers on Wednesday at the Intuit Dome. He is sidelined by quad soreness. His absence means he will watch the game from the bench, a reminder of the changed dynamic between the two West Coast teams.

Hachimura's time in Los Angeles saw him develop into a elite shooter. He shot 41.5% from beyond the arc during his three and a half seasons with the Lakers. His 51.6% career three-point percentage in the postseason stands as an NBA record. Lakers coach JJ Redick credited assistant coach Beau Levesque for helping Hachimura refine his shooting mechanics and mentality.

Hachimura is now taking a career-high 12.7 field-goal attempts per game. This is a jump from his career-low 8.8 shots last season. He no longer plays behind stars like Anthony Davis and LeBron James, roles that previously limited his offensive usage. Hachimura said he misses his former teammates but is happy to continue his career in Los Angeles.