Despite his absence from a pivotal possession in the Los Angeles Lakers’ Game 4 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, there’s no denying the impact Rui Hachimura made this season. From displaying his three-level scoring despite a change in roles, to holding the best 3-point percentage in NBA playoff history (51.6%), a wing whose future was once uncertain may now be crystal clear.
Rui Hachimura Boasts Solid Case to Stay With Lakers
Hachimura is one of a handful of Lakers set to enter free agency this summer. Aside from the big names in LeBron James and Austin Reaves, fans will also await the decisions of Deandre Ayton (player option), Marcus Smart (player option), Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes, among others.
Recent comments from president/GM Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick seem to affirm Hachimura’s standing within the organization. His fit, growth and recent playoff rise only add to his case.
Rui Hachimura 2026 postseason 3-pt shooting
• 33/58 3FG (56.9%)
• 5.8 attempts per game
• Highest 3-point percentage in a single postseason in Lakers history (min. 50 attempts) pic.twitter.com/JK3aOrdeXG— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) May 12, 2026
Pelinka and Redick Reflect on Hachimura’s Season
During Tuesday’s end-of-season press conference, Pelinka and Redick touched on the ways Hachimura has grown, both this season and throughout his four-year stint as a Laker. Redick said Hachimura’s shooting has been a “transformative development” for him, adding:
“It allows him to be an uber-efficient scorer. It allows him to create gravity for his teammates. It’s hard to take him off the floor. … His shooting elevates everyone else around him. The other areas of growth—finishing, decision-making, decisiveness in close-outs—I think he made progress in all those areas. I think defensively, understanding our schemes, it was another year of growth for him as well.”
Hachimura’s efficiency led him toward a career-best 17.5 points per game in the playoffs, along with 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists. When asked whether or not that changed the team’s offseason plans with him, Pelinka responded:
“Incredibly proud of what Rui accomplished for us in the playoffs, and what he’s done also in playoffs before this year. … His overall professionalism and his approach, his mindset approach. From the time I traded for him when he came from the Wizards, Rui has gotten incredibly comfortable here, … and what I’ve seen in that [is] once Rui gets to a point of trust and comfort, then he grows exponentially with his production on the court.
“That’s what I’ve noticed most about him. There’s a trust factor and a comfort level that allows him to be the highest version of himself. And that’s really important to keep those pieces. Credit to Rui and how he’s grown as a human.”
Rui Hachimura says he has not thought about free agency yet, but offered this:
"I love this team, I love this organization… I really appreciate them and what they've done for me… I love it here, but end of the day, I'm not the one negotiating."
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) May 12, 2026
Hachimura Remains Valuable, But Concerns Persist
Throughout this season and dating back to last year’s trade deadline, Hachimura showed he could complement Luka Doncic and the new-look Lakers. When LA’s offense needed a boost in the free-fall of April, Hachimura was there, stepping back into the starting five and hardly missing a beat. After Doncic and Reaves went down on Apr. 2, Hachimura averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.9 blocks. He also shot 56.5% from the field and 57.9% from deep in that span, countering an otherwise meager 60.9% from the free-throw line.
On a team that’s had a need for two-way wings with size, Hachimura’s recent stretch proved he could fill that void—for the most part. The defensive inconsistency and subpar free-throw shooting are notable knocks on his season. Plus, the team’s expected pursuit of rival standout wings may reduce the need to bring Hachimura back altogether. But to Pelinka’s point, his comfortability within the system—which plays into Redick’s philosophy on “continuity”—is a valid reason for him to stick around. And if next year’s Lakers go through another injury-riddled campaign, who better than someone like Hachimura to help pick up the slack?
The Financial Factor
Granted, the team has some major dilemmas to address about his next deal. The 28-year-old is coming off a three-year, $51 million contract, with a salary that won’t be as feasible in light of cap restrictions and his expected role going forward. If the Lakers upgrade the starting wing slot but keep Hachimura as a bench piece, it’d almost certainly need to be on a team-friendly salary, far less than the $17-18 million he earned over the last few years. There’s also the possibility that LA loses him for nothing, though fans have seen that nightmare play out before.
Nonetheless, Hachimura has given the Lakers a lot to think about this summer as they look to maintain a successful core amid a flurry of upcoming changes.
© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
