Austin Reaves Talks Facing Rui Hachimura as Lakers Open Season
Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves reflected on his former teammate ahead of a matchup against the Clippers.
The Los Angeles Lakers have officially tipped off their 2026-27 NBA season with early matchups against Pacific Division rivals the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers. While the team secured a dominant 127-105 victory against the Warriors behind strong performances from Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler, upcoming contests bring immediate reunions.
Among those reunions is a meeting with forward Rui Hachimura, who faces the Lakers for the first time since departing in free agency. Speaking to reporters at practice, Austin Reaves offered high praise for his former teammate while also sharing a humorous anecdote about their early days together on the roster.
"He's an unbelievable human," Reaves said. "I didn't know if he spoke English for the first two weeks. I sat by him on the plane. He didn't speak to me, and then after that I couldn't get him to shut up. So, great guy, great player, and I miss him."
Hachimura originally arrived in Los Angeles via a trade with the Washington Wizards in January 2023. Although his start with the franchise was modest, he eventually developed into a crucial starter and a reliable perimeter shooter, connecting on over 40 percent of his three-point attempts across three full seasons. During the 2025-26 campaign, he averaged 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Following the conclusion of his contract, Hachimura entered free agency in the summer of 2026. While the Lakers chose to secure Reaves with a major four-year, $180 million extension, the organization informed Hachimura that he would not be brought back. Despite this, the forward opted to remain in the local area, signing a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Hachimura enters the regular season with strong momentum following an efficient preseason where he averaged 17 points per contest. As the Lakers prepare to face their former teammate, Reaves and the rest of the squad will need to account for the forward's scoring ability on the court.