Lakers Get ‘Another Setback,’ Lose LeBron James’ ‘Understudy’ To Injury

The Los Angeles Lakers built great chemistry early in the season despite losing a few games. They lost a few players to injuries, and they have just added a new name to the list. The Lakers are 16 games into the season and will continue the next few games without Rui Hachimura as he deals with an injury. A fracture, to be more precise.

“Another setback for the Lakers: Rui Hachimura underwent a procedure to repair a nasal fracture today, the team announced,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin posted on X on November 24. “The injury occurred in the Mavericks game on Wednesday. He will be reevaluated by team doctors in approximately one week.”

Lakers lose a valuable player to injury

Losing Hachimura would be a big blow for the Lakers. The 25-year-old averages 11.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game this season while shooting 50.5% from the floor and 42.9% from beyond the arc. He suffered a concussion, but managed to average 13.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game after his return.

“After a slow start to the season … Hachimura had started to look like the impact player he showed he was capable of being during last season’s playoffs,” McMenamin wrote in a follow-up article.

The Lakers decided to keep Hachimura around and gave him a three-year contract extension in the offseason. Four-time NBA champion LeBron James says Hachimura is his “understudy.” LeBron and Hachimura have a strong relationship on the basketball court. This injury could change the chemistry on the floor, but Hachimura will have to return at some point.

Throw it down, @rui_8mura 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/0Ta9wAGZuc

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 23, 2023

“I think the sky is the limit for what we will be able to do,” Ham said, per Leonard Solms of ESPN on August 14. “I think we added a lot of depth, a lot of guys that have skill, size and athleticism, so I look forward to all of that coming together.”