Austin Reaves on Rui Hachimura: ‘one of my favorite teammates’

It isn’t often that Lakers superstar Luka Doncic will joke around with an opponent – especially during a game. 

His recent verbal back and forth with Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg throughout the Lakers’ season-opening win on Wednesday night showcased a glimpse of how competitive the Slovenian guard can get on the court. 

But Doncic was especially exuberant during the Lakers’ win over the Clippers on Friday night because the game was also Rui Hachimura’s return to Crypto.com Arena after the Japanese forward spent 3 ½ seasons with the Lakers, which included 1 ½ as a teammate with Doncic.

Doncic ran onto the court and hugged Hachimura pregame before the Clippers forward could start his routine. 

And even when the 2019 first-round draft pick was going through his pregame process, there Doncic was, being jovial with his former teammate as Hachimura greeted his old Lakers coaches.

The playfulness from Doncic’s side continued during the game. 

“I don’t like Rui…Nah, it was just great to see him,” Doncic said. “He’s my guy. We had a year and a half together, great friends, so it was really nice to see him.”

The playfulness turned into trash talk when the game started.

“He was just trying to talk trash or whatever,” Hachimura said. “But I don’t care about that stuff. I had a good time with him, two years with the Lakers. I’m happy to see him.”

It was clear Doncic wasn’t the only Laker who was happy to see Hachimura.

Hachimura and Lakers star guard Austin Reaves, who were teammates during the former Gonzaga forward’s entire tenure with the Lakers, also embraced on the court pregame and postgame on Friday.

“He’s one of my favorite teammates I’ve ever had,” Reaves said. “I made a joke the other day that I didn’t know if he spoke English for the first two weeks. We sat by each other on the plane his first year and I would say hey to him. He kind of just looked at me and [nodded].  

“And then after that I couldn’t get him to shut up. Always in a good mood, happy to be here, puts the work in and it’s just good to see him be happy and successful and enjoying his life.”

Hachimura’s demeanor is why coach JJ Redick said he was “one of my favorite players I’ve ever been around in the NBA.”

“One of my favorite players I’ve ever coached,” he added. “And it’s because of just the consistency of joy and personality that he brings every day.”

And that joy radiated from Hachimura throughout Friday, despite his new team losing to his old team.

He finished with 16 points, six rebounds and two steals in 33 minutes against the Lakers.

“It was amazing, it was a great time with them,” Hachimura said of his time with the Lakers. “This organization, of course I missed them. But it was time to move on. It was special, my four years, four seasons with them. I’m happy with the Clippers right now. I gotta keep going with my career.”

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