A struggling Los Angeles Lakers played their one of the last few gambles. The club acquired center forward Rui Hachimura from a trade exchange with Washington Wizards. The purple and gold gave away Kendrick Nunn in exchange for Rui Hachimura. So far, the trade has worked for the Lakers, as the forward scored 12 points in his opening game.
Meanwhile, Rui has already won the hearts of the fans with a thoughtful gesture. The center forward chose the number 28 for his purple and gold jersey. While 28 might just seem like a number, the intention of Rui behind choosing the number is heartwarming. The Lakers owner Jeanie Buss revealed her first conversation with Hachimura during Stephen A. Smith\’s \”Know Mercy\” podcast.
Rui Hachimura Pays Homage To Kobe And Gianna Bryant
Two years ago, the sports world dealt with a shock when the news of Kobe Bryant\’s passing surfaced. The Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, suffered a fatal helicopter crash and lost their lives. The crash happened due to weather complications, and there were no survivors.
The Lakers\’ latest addition, Rui Hachimura, decided to pay tribute to the legend Kobe. While the jersey numbers 24 and 8 have been retired by the Lakers in honor of the father-daughter duo, Rui decided to go with number 28. While having a conversation with Jeanie Buss, Rui revealed he would don the number 28 on his jersey, wherein number 2 was to honor Gianna Bryant and number 8 for Kobe Bryant. Further, Rui\’s heartfelt gesture has gone viral, and the fans are in awe of the center forward.
\”Yeah, I am wearing No. 28. No. 2 for Gianna, and No. 8 for Kobe,\” said Rui Hachimura To Jeanie Buss.
Is Hachimura The Missing Link In The Lakers Lineup?
The Lakers\’ move to bring in Rui Hachimura looked more like a desperation move than a tactical one. However, the center forward did not fail to impress. In the very first game wearing the purple and gold jersey, Rui scored 12 crucial points. Moreover, against the Nets, Rui registered 16 points. Further, Hachimura has been a great supporter of the LeBron-Davis duo and is contributing well personally as well. Hence, Rui Hachimura could prove to be the missing line in the Lakers lineup.
On the other hand, the LA Lakers, despite putting up impressive performances, are losing out on close games. Moreover, the unforced errors by the referees have gone against them. As a result, the team finds themselves in a grave position. Coming out of the current situation will be a daunting task for the Lakers as they eye the playoff berth. This is the second time in a row that the Lakers are staring at a possible elimination.