Rui Hachimura is finally putting it all together.

NBA All-Star Game no ‘live funeral’ for Curry

The Los Angeles Lakers entered All-Star weekend as one of the top teams in the NBA.

The rescinded trade for Mark Williams has yielded an unmistakable sense of uncertainty, but at 32-20, they’ve created quite the cushion for themselves as they figure out how to proceed.

One of the players who will prove essential to the Lakers’ success after the All-Star break is beginning to look the part of the player fans always knew he could be: Rui Hachimura.

Hachimura, 27, is in his third and most important season with the Lakers.

Following the acquisition of Luka Doncic, as well as the addition of Dorian Finney-Smith, Hachimura has been placed under the spotlight for reasons that can be found both on and off the court.

That includes the simple fact that Hachimura’s $18,259,259 expiring salary for the 2025-26 season could be Los Angeles’ most valuable trade asset come the summer.

Rather than wilting under the pressure that comes with a contract that could be traded, Hachimura is taking his game to another level.

He’s thriving on the offensive end of the floor, turning the corner as a scorer and showing the ability to thrive alongside Doncic.

It’s an admittedly limited sample size of success, but Hachimura’s mid-season development could guarantee that he at least starts the 2025-26 campaign in Los Angeles.

Rui Hachimura is finally embracing his potential as a scorer

Hachimura has turned in a respectable season up to this point. He’s posted averages of 13.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.4 offensive boards, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.7 three-point field goals made per game while posting a slash line of .510/.434/.784.

Hachimura has been far more decisive as a shooter and assertive on the offensive glass, but many have still wondered why he hasn’t been more aggressive as an all-around scorer.

Over the past seven games, Hachimura has addressed those concerns in a powerful way.

During that time, he’s recorded averages of 19.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 2.9 three-point field goals made per contest, shooting at a clip of .584/.526/.824.

Hachimura’s efficiency will come back down to earth at some point, but his general quality of play and confidence can be sustained.

Hachimura has scored at least 20 points in five of the Lakers’ past seven games, recording 19 in another.

He’s attempted at least five three-point field goals in all but one of those outings, which goes hand-in-hand with the general increase in production.

Already an efficient player, Hachimura is proving that greater volume in his scoring efforts can be a direct result of simply attempting more shots.

Perhaps expecting Hachimura to average in the ballpark of 20 points per game would be irrational, but there’s reason to believe he can reside in the 15-to-18 range.

He’s a tall, strong, and athletic forward with positional versatility, efficiency as a shooter, and the ability to attack closeouts and play above the rim.

If Hachimura continues to produce at this level, then there should be no question about his place in the rotation, if not the starting lineup.