The Los Angeles Lakers have been dealing with injuries to several key players. Understandably, LeBron James's groin injury has received the most attention but Rui Hachimura's extended absence has been an underrated problem for the Lakers.
Hachimura suffered a left knee strain on February 27 against the Minnesota Timberwolves and was subsequently ruled out. He hasn't played since. Along with James' injury, Hachimura's absence left the Lakers short-handed on the wing, resulting in four straight losses.
Fortunately for Lakers fans, the team is about to get their starting forward back this week, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Shams: Lakers optimistic Rui Hachimura (knee) will return within a week.
— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) March 16, 2025
Lakers News: Rui Hachimura Expected to Return "Within a Week"
The Lakers finally got back on track on Sunday at home against the Phoenix Suns, moving to 41-25 for the season and keeping their one-game difference between the No. 2 seed, the Houston Rockets. With 16 games left in the season, the Lakers need to have their full complement of players to secure home-court advantage in the first round.
After the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade at the deadline, Hachimura is even more important for the Lakers. The 27-year-old is one of the few two-way players on the roster who can hit open shots and defend reasonably well while providing size and physicality. Since joining the Lakers during the 2022-23 trade deadline, the Japanese forward has been hitting 40% of his threes, averaging 12.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 27.6 minutes per game.
Head coach JJ Redick will have to play a ton of small-ball lineups the rest of the regular season and the playoffs since the Lakers don't have any viable centers other than Jaxson Hayes. The likes of Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Jarred Vanderbilt will be very important in the frontcourt to guard opposing centers and try to keep the defense afloat. That is why Hachimura's return to the rotation will be a big boost for the Lakers down the stretch.