Ex-Laker Rui Hachimura Reveals Drawback of Playing With Luka Doncic

Rui Hachimura spent three and a half seasons as one of the NBA’s most efficient shooters. But in a Lakers lineup built around Luka Doncic, alongside LeBron James and Austin Reaves, he says there was only so much of the ball to go around.

“I feel like the people around me know,” Hachimura told ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly in an exclusive interview. “They always say that they’re always watching me. Even last year, when those three guys played, Austin, LeBron, Luka, it’s tough to get the ball, but when one guy or two guys are out, I always show up. I was the number one scorer too, so I always showed up, whatever they need. I always proved that I’m always ready to be in that position.”

The numbers back up his case. After shooting 29.6% from 3-point range in his first half-season with the Lakers in 2022-23, he climbed to 44.3% last season. His field goal percentage stayed between 48.5% and 53.7% in Los Angeles, peaking in 2023-24. It’s hard to get noticed doing that next to a star who averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds, as Doncic did last season.

Hachimura also believed that people still underrate his value to the team and how consistent he was during his time with the Lakers.

“They think that [only] one season, I was good, but I keep doing it,” he said. “I consistently — like three years in a row — was shooting 45 percent on threes and 50 or 60 percent from mid-range, and I was always top five in shooting for three years. It’s, of course, because of the team and how we operated. We had LeBron [James], [Anthony Davis], Luka [Doncic].

“But also, it's tough to play for the Lakers. It's a big crowd, big shine. The lights are brighter. The thing I always say is that I've always had that, but it's just what the team's situation is. I have to adjust. I can fit in, to any type of team, but I think that's the one thing that people always talk about. I have more than that to my game, yes, but I always play for the team wherever I'm at, so whatever they ask me to do, I'll do.”

So, the move to the other side of LA was to make a statement and to see whether he could bring out his best in a different environment.

Hachimura signed a two-year, $28 million deal with the Clippers this summer, and he has landed on a roster that needs him to do more. The Clippers are playing without Brandon Ingram, Bradley Beal, and Jordan Miller, all expected to handle the ball this season.

“For me, right now with the Clippers' situation, I've got to be the guy to be aggressive,” he admitted further in the same interview. “They've been communicating the position. Because I told them I need them to be in the right spot. I can’t run point guard, so if you got to put me in the right spot, then I’ll be fine.”

But even though playing with Doncic and Co. wasn’t always easy, the Lakers haven't forgotten about him. Lakers head coach JJ Redick called Hachimura one of his favorite players he has ever coached.

Austin Reaves also admitted that he misses him. Now it is on to the Clippers. Tyronn Lue, their coach says they “can use him in a lot of different ways” and has challenged him to average eight rebounds a night. The early returns are mixed: through three games, Hachimura is shooting 30% from the field but 38.5% from 3-point range.

The Clippers are 1-2, with a win over Sacramento followed by losses to the Lakers (125-117 on Friday) and Oklahoma City. Hachimura gets another shot at his old team on Wednesday, Oct. 28, when the Clippers host the Lakers at Intuit Dome.