Rui Hachimura, the Lakers’ power forward, swiftly rose to the spotlight and became an integral member of the roster in just a month since joining the franchise. His impact on the squad and partnership with LeBron James has been a boon for the purple and gold.
Following Rui Hachimura sustaining a seemingly major injury and missing a handful of Lakers’ matchups in the current season, the 25-year-old star has returned to the court and did so wearing an unusual outfit.
Why did Rui Hachimura don a mask during the Suns-Lakers?
The Lakers faced off against the Phoenix Suns in the quarterfinals of the In-season tournament, in which the return of Japanese-born star Rui Hachimura, boosted the Lakers’ strength, especially owing to his length and shooting prowess. Hachimura wore a protective mask upon his return, sparking a lot of enquiries as to why he wore it.
Per a clip, Hachimura was spotted donning a mask during the team’s practice sessions in the warmup against the Suns.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin disclosed Lakers’ coach Darvin Ham previously stated that Hachimura will return from his nasal fracture against the Suns.
Hachimura, who sustained a nasal fracture against the Mavericks, is wearing a mask to protect his nose from further injuries. Hachimura, recalling his injury incident said, “It was in the first quarter against Dallas. I went to drive and went to the basket and I got blocked and I fell. And I think one of the players kind of ran into me and hit my nose.”
Rui Hachimura underwent a minor surgery after he sustained the injury, which required a minimum recovery period of one week. The mask hasn’t only prevented further injuries but allowed him to be on the court for the Lakers.
Rui Hachimura shows off his new mask on Jarred Vanderbilt’s IG story
The Lakers edged passed the Phoenix Suns in the In-season tournament’s quarterfinals matchup, which Hachimura was in line to feature, and inspired a 106-103 Lakers win. Before the much-anticipated knockout round matchup between the two highly tipped teams for the In-season trophy, Hachimura was seen showing off his new mask.
In the short clip, Hachimura was behind Jarred Vanderbilt, displaying some moves that appeared like martial arts, while Vanderbilt couldn’t help but laugh at Hachimura’s moves.
During the game, Jarred Vanderbilt played for 15 minutes, achieved just a point, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. Hachimura contributed 7 points, 2 rebounds, and an assist in 21 minutes for the Lakers’ victory.
The league had lifted the ban on wearing masks on the court back in 2018 after receiving medical clearance. Nevertheless, the Lakers have now sealed their spot in the final four of the in-season tournament and will be eyeing the Championship.
