nypost
Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is not typically one to engage in playful banter with opponents during a game, but his recent exchange with Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg during the Lakers' season-opening victory on Wednesday offered a glimpse of the Slovenian guard's fierce competitive streak.
Doncic was particularly animated during the Lakers' win over the Clippers on Friday night, a game that marked Rui Hachimura's return to Crypto.com Arena. The Japanese forward spent three seasons with the Lakers, including one as Doncic's teammate.
Before Hachimura could begin his pregame routine, Doncic sprinted onto the court to embrace him. Even as the 2019 first-round pick went through his warmup, Doncic lingered nearby, cheerfully greeting Hachimura as he caught up with his former Lakers coaches.
The lightheartedness continued during the game. "I don't like Rui? Nah, it was just great to see him," Doncic said. "He's my guy. We had a year and a half together, great friends, so it was really nice to see him."
That playfulness turned into some trash talk once the game began. "He was just trying to talk trash or whatever," Hachimura said. "But I don't care about that stuff. I had a good time with him, two years with the Lakers. I'm happy to see him."
Doncic wasn't the only Laker thrilled to see Hachimura. Austin Reaves, who was teammates with Hachimura for the latter's entire Lakers tenure, also shared embraces with him before and after Friday's game. "He's one of my favorite teammates I've ever had," Reaves said. "I made a joke the other day that I didn't know if he spoke English for the first two weeks. We sat by each other on the plane his first year and I would say hey to him. He kind of just looked at me and [nodded]. And then after that I couldn't get him to shut up. Always in a good mood, happy to be here, puts the work in and it's just good to see him be happy and successful and enjoying his life."
Hachimura's demeanor is why coach JJ Redick called him "one of my favorite players I've ever been around in the NBA" and "one of my favorite players I've ever coached," citing "the consistency of joy and personality that he brings every day."
That joy was evident throughout Friday, even as Hachimura's new team fell to his old one. He finished with 16 points, six rebounds and two steals in 33 minutes. "It was amazing, it was a great time with them," Hachimura said of his Lakers stint. "This organization, of course I missed them. But it was time to move on. It was special, my four years, four seasons with them. I'm happy with the Clippers right now. I gotta keep going with my career."
Key Analysis
The reunion highlighted the deep relationships Hachimura built during his time in Los Angeles, with both players and coaches praising his consistent positivity and professionalism. While the Clippers came up short on the scoreboard, Hachimura's performance and the warm reception underscored his lasting impact on the Lakers' organization.
Originally reported by nypost.