Rui Hachimura has cracked the code at the perfect time for the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2024-25 regular season with several missions in mind. Chief among them was a clear intention to give Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves the consistent playing time that the previous coaching staff was reluctant to.

Reaves has earned rave reviews for his stellar play since Christmas, while Hachimura has quietly begun to come into his own despite flying under the radar.

Hachimura set a strong tone for the Lakers early in the season, providing infectious energy on both ends of the court. That's been a constant throughout the 2024-25 campaign, which is a significant reason he's been a full-time starter.

It's been in recent weeks, however, that Hachimura has taken his most significant step forward, evolving from a quality energy source into a true impact player.

That alone is a testament to Hachimura's resolve, as the acquisition of Dorian Finney-Smith could've gone either way for him. Rather than responding with indifference over the fear of losing his job, however, he's asserted himself more on both ends of the floor.

That includes Hachimura's most recent outing, during which his hot streak as a scorer ended, but he still dominated in another area of the game.

Rui Hachimura playing with the assertive mentality Lakers need

Midway through January, Hachimura began to put together one of the best stretches of his career. In 14 games between Jan. 15 and Feb. 19, the 27-year-old compiled averages of 17.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 2.0 three-point field goals made on .547/.412/.742 shooting.

Hachimura scored just six points on 3-of-7 shooting on Feb. 20, but it was the way that he imposed his will on the glass that proved his recent quality could be sustained.

Hachimura finished the Lakers' 110-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers with six points, 12 rebounds, four offensive boards, one assist, and a block. Shooting 3-of-7 from the field and 0-of-3 from beyond the arc isn't ideal, but he rectified a past issue.

Despite the fact that his shot wasn't falling, Hachimura found another area in which he could make an impact—and he went all-out in that regard.

For a team that's preparing to move forward with Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Reaves running the offense, Hachimura's performance against Portland was a promising sign. He's proven in recent games that he can step up as a scorer, posting at least 17 points in seven of his past nine outings.

The willingness to go all-out in an entirely different area when their shot isn't falling, however, is the true sign of a player who's committed to winning.

Hachimura's rebounding could prove especially essential moving forward. With Anthony Davis traded to the Dallas Mavericks and Mark Williams no longer joining the Lakers, there's a void at center that will likely result in lackluster rebounding numbers.

Thankfully, Hachimura has proven over the past three-plus weeks that he's willing and able to do whatever the team needs of him.