Domantas Sabonis Reveals Rui Hachimura Considered Los Angeles His Home Long Before Lakers Trade

Domantas Sabonis revealed that Rui Hachimura told him during his college days that LA would be his home one day.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

Rui Hachimura is going to be one of the most closely-watched players in the NBA over the next few weeks as he becomes the first piece the Lakers have acquired to boost their push for the 2023 NBA Playoffs. A price of Kendrick Nunn and 3 second-round picks was a fair one for the young forward that adds some much-needed size to the Lakers’ roster.

Hachimura is a former lottery pick after spending 3 seasons with the Gonzaga Bulldogs from 2016 to 2019. Another talented forward that came out of Gonzaga a year before Hachimura joined was Domantas Sabonis. The alumni had a relationship with Hachimura when he was in Gonzaga and revealed that the Japanese forward has been dreaming about playing in LA since his college days. 

Hachimura has given new meaning to the word manifestation, as he ended up leaving a situation he was not happy with to be a part of a team that he wanted to play for in college. Though it’s not called the Staples Center anymore, it’s still among the most historic venues in basketball.


Will We See A New Side Of Rui Hachimura In LA?

If this has been a long-term goal of Hachimura, he should be raring to go to LA. He found his on-court rhythm in recent games and capped off his Washington career with a 30-point game. Hopefully, he can be a source of 15-18 consistent points in LA. Magic Johnson expects Rui to be more aggressive on the court and this is the perfect time to do so.

He was not happy with his situation in Washington, so to be on a team that wanted him and in the city where he wanted to play, he has to be extremely motivated to show the range of his skill set. There is a lot of valid optimism that’s come up in Laker fans after this trade, but that’ll only be justified when Hachimura gets on the court and delivers on his lottery-pick potential.  

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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