Rui Hachimura shot lights out for Team Japan against Team Serbia. According to @HoodiHachimura, Hachimura, 26, scored 29 points and was 5-for-8 from the 3-point line and a 65% field goal percentage. The 26-year-old plays for the Los Angeles Lakers as a power forward and shines, just like the Hollywood lights.
Hachimura was born in Toyama, Japan, to a Beninese father, Zakari Jabil, and a Japanese mother, Makiko, on February 8, 1998. Hachimura’s college career took place at Gonzaga University, unlike his younger brother, Allen, who played college basketball at Tokai University and currently plays for the Gunma Crane Thunders. When committing to Gonzaga in 2015, Hachimura was arguably one of the best international players entering college, as he led Tsuchiura Nihon University High School to three All-Japan Tournament wins. Read on for further details about Hachimura’s lights-out performance for Team Japan in the Olympic exhibition game.
Rui Hachimura’s Lights-Out Performance
Rui Hachimura’s lights-out performance was arguably one of the biggest highlights of Team Japan’s Olympic exhibition game against Team Serbia. Hachimura led all scorers with 29 points, while Yuki Kawamura scored 12 points, and Yuta Watanabe added 10 points. Hachimura’s scoring explosion was one for the record books. Team Japan got blown out by Team Serbia 119-100. Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic played his first game for Team Serbia after recovering from an ankle injury. Jokic finished with an all-around performance of 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Filip Petrusev scored 17 points, and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 15 points.
Hachimura’s 29-point performance was a game-high for Team Japan. Team Japan’s exhibition game against Team Serbia was their last before the Olympics. They previously dropped two close games against Team Australia, 90-89, and South Korea, 95-95, defeated Team South Korea, 88-80, and lost to Team Germany, 104-83.
Possible Next Steps for Team Japan
As Hachimura and Team Japan wait for the Olympics, Nikola Jokic and Team Serbia are preparing for their final Olympic exhibition game against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Team Greece on Monday, July 22. Team Serbia previously defeated Team France, 79-67, but lost to Team Australia, 84-73, and Team USA, 105-79.
At the Olympics in Paris, France, Team Japan will compete in Group B with Teams Germany, France, and Brazil. Team Japan’s leader will be Los Angeles Lakers power forward Rui Hachimura, who has been a regular in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Team Serbia will compete in Group C with Teams USA, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico. Last year, Hachimura missed the FIBA World Cup. However, Hachimura delivered in the Tokyo Olympics, averaging 22.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. He previously finished in third place for a bronze medal at the FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship in Tehran, Iran, in 2013 for Team Japan.
A Potential New Look for the Los Angeles Lakers
A new era began in Hollywood when the Los Angeles Lakers introduced their 29th head coach, JJ Redick, to the general public through a press conference at the UCLA Health Training Center last month. JJ Redick’s lack of head coaching experience has made him a questionable hire, but he can be the innovative mind that the Lakers reportedly need and want. Rui Hachimura has been a Lakers power forward since 2023. Hachimura previously played for the Washington Wizards from 2019 to 2023 after being drafted by the Wizards with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga.
But there’s a chance that JJ Redick might trade Hachimura, despite Hachimura’s recent performance. JJ Redick’s potential decision might not be the best one. Redick has mentioned that Rui Hachimura could shoot more three-pointers while improving his offensive rebounding. Redick might want to give Hachimura some more time because he said that he could become an “elite” offensive rebounder.
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