:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72699563/1253192165.0.jpg "Lakers: Rui Hachimura worked out with LeBron James during offseason")
After experiencing a “personal renaissance” with the Lakers last year, Hachimura spent the offseason working out with LeBron James as his “backup.”
While the Lakers acquired multiple players before the trade deadline, none exceeded expectations quite like Hachimura. Hachimura was actually acquired through a couple of second-round picks, and he struggled a bit in the regular season before finding his feet and flourishing in the playoffs.
The Lakers rewarded him handsomely this offseason, something they always planned to do, and it looks like Rui is ready to return the favor. This offseason, Hachimura has been working out with LeBron James all summer, and DaVine Hamm revealed in a media interview on Thursday that the all-time scoring champion called him a “substitute.”
“Rui has become, we laugh, Brown calls him ‘his backup,'” Daven Ham said. “He spent as much time with him as possible over the summer, which I think is a great thing. He’s setting himself up not just for a long career, but for a long career at a very high level. As for How to use him, again we have a team full of Swiss Army Knife, so he’s another player who can play multiple positions, can score at three levels, he’s strong, physical and has made huge Leap, and last year’s defensive coverage.
“As you saw in the Denver series, we were able to put him on Jokic, and all I expect from Rui this year is big, big, big. He’s still a young player and he’s got a different The level he can go to, and he’s already at a high level. So we’ll work through that, but he’s definitely going to be deep in it.”
Rob Pelinka had similarly high praise and expectations for Rui, noting his “personal resurgence” since joining the Lakers last season and how it would only serve as a springboard.
“I think seeing Rui come in here after the trade, it felt like a personal renaissance for him,” Pelinka said. “He’s active again as a player and he’s done well this offseason. Unbelievable job taking advantage of that. He’s been working out with LeBron most of the time and I think that’s really intentional and I know the coaching staff and the front office, on the days when we’re here doing some individual work Here, he plays with great confidence and belief.
“I think their strength and athleticism looks to be at a different level. I think we got a taste of it, he shot over 40 percent in the playoffs and he’s a consistent elite shooter, but I To think he’s just really achieved the flight that he’s going to go on. Really, really excited that he’s in such a great place and putting in the effort to have a great year.”
Obviously, Rui can’t continue to shoot 39 times in 16 games and hit 48.7% of the three-pointers like he did in the playoffs. But if he can continue to put himself in the position he did in that series and find the openings and opportunities he did so often with Anthony Davis and LeBron, there’s no reason to believe he can’t continue to be a significant contributor By.
The Lakers haven’t had a wing of his size in the LeBron era, and LeBron noticed it right away. In addition to being able to play with LeBron and AD, he would allow the pair to get more rest during the season as well as their versatility. He won’t completely replace their production, nor will he be asked to do so, but his presence and production will be enough to help ease the burden on the Lakers’ stars.
At just 25 years old, Rui’s future is still very bright, and the Lakers are counting on him to be an important part of their roster. Now, he has a great nickname.
LeBron and LeUnderstudy.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter: @Jacobrud.
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