Rui Hachimura: Lakers have their own bubble inside the NBA bubble

Rui Hachimura: In the NBA, we already live in our own bubble, right? The NBA is its own world—300 players, small group. But the Lakers? They have their own bubble inside that. We move differently. The travel schedule, the media attention—everything is different. Every game feels like a playoff game. At home, of course, every seat is sold out. But even on the road, it’s crazy. When I was with the Wizards, some games, the arena would be half-empty. But when you play for the Lakers? Every team treats it like their biggest game of the season. You go to Detroit—boom, it’s packed. Oklahoma—sold out. Dallas—feels like a playoff game.

Source: YouTube

What's the buzz on Twitter?

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter

The Lakers got 3 late made 3's (two from LeBron, one from Hachimura) and a dunk from Hachimura to trim what had grown to an 11-point deficit to 5, before Utah got a 3 just ahead of the buzzer to take a 64-56 lead into the half. - 10:06 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter

Redick said that LeBron and Reaves are both available to play (Doncic was upgraded to probable earlier).

Expect them to start alongside Hayes and Hachimura, with Vanderbilt, Knecht, Len, Goodwin and Milton playing off the bench.

Finney-Smith and Vincent are out. - 7:38 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter

JJ Redick said they ran a Horns set one time with LeBron, Luka and Reaves, and got a wide-open 3 out of it for Hachimura.

So many actions can work well with those three having such an elite combo of passing/scoring ability. - 1:14 AM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha

JJ Redick says that Jaxson Hayes, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic will start tonight.

Redick said he has been considering starting Dorian Finney-Smith but he thinks Hachimura has been playing great and Finney-Smith’s impact isn’t affected by starting. - 8:52 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter

Doncic, Reaves, LeBron, Hachimura and Hayes will start.

Redick said they did discuss Dorian Finney-Smith, who will be a big part of the team whether starting or coming off the bench. - 8:51 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price

Lakers starters vs. Jazz: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Jaxson Hayes. - 8:51 PM

More on this storyline

Rui Hachimura: Especially when you grow up poor. The NBA is the American Dream, right? So they see me living this life, and of course, they’re like, ‘Oh wow,’ and they want to be part of it. But my agent always told me, ‘Look, this is your life. You made it out. You deserve that money, that success.’ Friends, family—everyone around you, they’re not living your life. They can’t live that life. They don’t know how to handle that kind of money. They have to learn. They have to figure it out for themselves. -via YouTube / February 13, 2025

Rui Hachimura: That same night, I got a call from my agent again. He said, ‘The Lakers want you.’ And I was like, ‘Lakers? What Lakers?’ Because I never even thought that I’d be a Laker. Right? So I’m like, ‘Wait, what? What? The Lakers?’ I didn’t even know what he was talking about. He’s like, ‘Lakers. You remember the Lakers? They want you.’ And I was like, ‘Wait… no, I don’t think so. I shouldn’t do it. No, no, no. That’s too much. Too much pressure. I’m not ready for that.’ I was thinking, ‘I’ll just go to a team where I can earn my minutes, prove myself, and build from there.’ I was like, ‘No, no, no, don’t do that trade.’ My agent said, ‘Are you sure?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t think so. Let me think about it for a day.’ The next day, I got on the phone with him again, and he asked, ‘Are you sure you don’t want this? I think this is a perfect fit for you.’ I asked, ‘Why?’ And he explained, ‘Look, the Lakers are struggling right now. They’re barely holding on, dealing with injuries, trying to make the playoffs.’ I think they were the 11th seed at the time. He said, ‘They need you.’ -via YouTube / February 13, 2025

Dave McMenamin: The Lakers beat the Knicks, 128-112, improve to 8-2 over their last 10 games and close out their five-game road trip with a 4-1 record (and 2-0 without Anthony Davis). LeBron 33p 12a 11r; Reaves 27p 6a 3s; Rui 21p 3r; Christie 15p 3r; DFS 15p on 5-of-6 from 3 2s. -via x.com / February 1, 2025

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Rui Hachimura: Lakers have their own bubble inside the NBA bubble