{"id":562309,"date":"2026-01-26T17:48:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/562309\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T17:48:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:48:12","slug":"lakers-forward-opens-up-about-recent-role-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/562309\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Forward Opens Up About Recent Role Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lakers wing Rui Hachimura<\/a> entered the new year in a new role. After missing seven games with a calf injury, he has played the last seven with the second unit<\/a>, a welcome change in the eyes of fans and one Hachimura has embraced, according to a new interview.<\/p>\n

Lakers Forward Opens Up About Recent Role Change
\nHachimura on Coming Off the Bench<\/p>\n

In a Monday morning story<\/a> by The Athletic\u2019s Dan Woike, Hachimura emphasized his desire to put winning above stats. He \u201c[doesn\u2019t] mind\u201d the change at all, even with free agency on the horizon.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people think about stats and all that, but for me it\u2019s like winning. That\u2019s gonna help us to everybody get paid \u2026 And especially with this second unit, I get more touches too. \u2026 I don\u2019t mind. It\u2019s more so like, who\u2019s finishing the game? Or who\u2019s playing more? For me, that\u2019s more important.\u201d<\/p>\n

In those seven appearances off the bench, Hachimura has averaged<\/a> nearly ten points, three rebounds and an assist in 23 minutes per game. Saturday\u2019s win over Dallas marked his first game off of a minutes restriction. He delivered a solid 17-point, eight-rebound outing while nailing four of seven three-point attempts, including two clutch ones in the final frame<\/a>.<\/p>\n

LeBron James on Rui Hachimura’s late 3-pointers that helped the Lakers ahead of the Mavericks en route to their eventual victory in Dallas, as well as Rui’s rebounding\/defense tonight: “I told him some of the shots that he missed in the fourth quarter against the Clippers, I\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/LE9ZHUulhn<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Khobi Price (@khobi_price) January 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Hachimura said that while he may have cared about touches in the first three years as a Laker, his fourth is defined by doing the little things, a staple of head coach JJ Redick<\/a>\u2019s philosophy.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut now, I\u2019m trying to think \u2018OK, what I can do to help to win this game?\u201d Hachimura told Woike. \u201cRebound, box out, help defense. Those are little movements that\u2019s gonna keep me into the game. So then, when I get to the ball, I\u2019m still in rhythm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hachimura\u2019s willingness to win along the margins is vital toward his success with the second unit, a group struggling to score<\/a> even after his addition. If he can stay consistent on offense while stifling critics with his defense\u2014as seen in the following viral sequence\u2014then Hachimura will be just fine in the back half of the season.<\/p>\n

RUI HACHIMURA LOCKED IN ON DEFENSE. \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n

pic.twitter.com\/4taklZYuLy<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Debate Over Lakers\u2019 Fifth Starter When Reaves Returns<\/p>\n

With Hachimura accepting his new role, the focus is now on who replaces him in the starting five when Austin Reaves<\/a> (calf strain) returns. In that case, it\u2019s a battle between the Lakers\u2019 recent additions: Jake LaRavia<\/a> and Marcus Smart<\/a>, who each bring compelling cases to remain starters going forward.<\/p>\n

LaRavia, who replaced Hachimura in the first unit, is averaging<\/a> 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists since Dec. 30. He is also shooting 48.2% from the field, 38.5% from three and 85% from the free-throw line. Despite some inconsistencies in scoring, he has fantastic two-way skills that allow him to thrive with Luka Doncic<\/a> and LeBron James<\/a>. He\u2019s a pivotal 3-and-D wing with the size to boot (6\u20197\u201d, 235 lbs) and is a decent temporary solution to LA\u2019s lingering problem.<\/p>\n

Smart, the defensive-minded veteran, has also fulfilled his role to a tee so far, bouncing between the first and second units and staying solid no matter the circumstances. In that same frame since Hachimura\u2019s initial absence, Smart has put up<\/a> 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals on .412\/.369\/.806 splits. Like his other stops in the league, Smart has set the tone on defense for LA, but he\u2019s also stepped up offensively and become crucial in the clutch<\/a>. Though he could be benched again to avoid redundancy with the two forwards, Smart has breathed new life into the starting lineup with his effort and intensity.<\/p>\n

“I want to be able to help my team in any way I can, whether I got 10 fingers or nine.”<\/p>\n

Marcus gives EVERYTHING pic.twitter.com\/FEDBiasYzW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

All of these factors are worth watching as the Lakers continue their rugged road stint. Barring any other complications due to the ongoing winter storm<\/a>, they face the Chicago Bulls in the Windy City tonight at 5 p.m. PT.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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