Lakers News: Rui Hachimura Appears To Reverse Decision On 2023 FIBA World Cup Status
Prior to hitting restricted free agency on July 1st, Los Angeles Lakers power forward Rui Hachimura had reportedly been leaning against suiting up for his native Japan for August's FIBA World Cup international hoops tournament in the Philippines.
Now, it appears that he has had a change of heart.
Per Shintaro Kano of Olympics.com, the 6'8" Gonzaga product will now star for Team Japan next month, after all. NBA.com reveals that Japan will be playing in "Group E" (there are eight total groups), alongside a loaded Team Australia, featuring a whopping 10 NBA players; Team Germany, which boasts five players; and Team Finland, which includes just one.
Hachimura looks to handily be the best player on his club, and will be joined by just one other NBA-caliber pro, sharpshooting Phoenix Suns swingman Yuta Watanabe, currently playing on a one-year, veteran's minimum contract.
The 25-year-old Hachimura just inked a lucrative new three-year, $51 million deal to remain in Los Angeles. Upon being traded to the club in January, Hachimura enjoyed a promising-if-erratic regular season in LA, mostly off the team's bench. He really made his money in the postseason. Across 16 games, he averaged 12.2 points on a hyper-efficient slash line of .557/.487/.882, plus 3.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.5 steals a night.
After a handful of "friendly" (i.e. non-elimination) games, the meaningful action is set to tip off on August 25th.
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