Rui Hachimura on exchanging trash talk with Luka Doncic on Friday

The Los Angeles Lakers underwent a significant roster overhaul this summer, acquiring nine new players while losing key members such as LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, and several others. Hachimura, a fixture on the team since joining via trade from the Washington Wizards in January 2023, faced criticism for his rebounding and defense against opposing wings.

However, he transformed into an efficient 3-point shooter and excelled in isolation scoring situations. Hachimura re-signed with the Los Angeles Clippers this summer and returned to Crypto.com Arena on Friday to face the Lakers. Despite scoring just five of his 14 shots in a 125-117 Lakers victory, he took the opportunity to briefly rekindle connections with former teammates.

Post-game, Hachimura remarked on an exchange of trash talk between himself and Luka Doncic, stating that they had a good time together during their two-year stint with the Lakers and expressed happiness to see him healthy and back on the court. Throughout his tenure with the Lakers, Hachimura averaged 12.3 points per game, shooting 51.6% from the field and 41.5% from beyond the arc, becoming the NBA's all-time leader in playoff 3-point accuracy with a 56.9% success rate.