Everyone knows that Los Angeles belongs to the Lakers, but the Clippers are working to change that. Over the years, thanks to owner Steve Ballmer, the franchise turned from a Western Conference afterthought to a notable competitor and regular playoff team.
After the departures of Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac, the Clippers are expected to take a step back this season, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be out of the picture entirely. As it stands, former Lakers forward Rui Hachimura will do his part to help the Clippers stay relevant, and he’s excited for the opportunity.
“I’m just so happy,” Hachimura told Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. “The Clippers are an amazing organization. Even when talking to other NBA players, they always rave about how great the Clippers organization is. It’s truly a player-first team, you know. They take care of their players while having that winning mentality. The Clippers are a young team. A year ago, they were called the oldest team in the league, but they’ve transitioned to a younger generation, especially with Kawhi Leonard getting traded. Joining them right as they build this next generation is huge for me, and I’m incredibly excited.”
After averaging 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 51.4% shooting from the field last season, Rui was pursued by several teams in free agency, but he ultimately settled on the Clippers for two years and $28 million. It was the perfect situation for the veteran swingman, who gets to play a meaningful role on his desired salary while staying within the comforts of Los Angeles.
“Above all, being able to stay in LA is the best outcome for me,” said Hachimura. “They support their players, of course, their families and inner circles from what I hear. Plus they have a brand new arena with advanced physical and medical support and all kinds of useful tools for physical training. I’m really looking forward to all of it.”
More than anything else, however, Rui just wants to win. Since being drafted in 2019, the farthest he’s ever gone is the Western Conference Finals, but he’s optimistic for greater things on the Clippers. For Rui, they offered him the best situation of any team, and he’ll experience a role as the veteran mentor for the first time in his career.
“My top priority was winning. The roster construction, the team organization, and their style of play altogether, the Clippers felt like they gave me the best opportunity. Plus, like I keep saying, playing with a team of younger players is a first for me since my time with the Wizards. I’ve always played on rosters with veterans, so having this experience is going to be a lot of fun,” Rui added. “It’s a young team, and while the roster itself is young, the organization is relatively young here, too. They only moved to L.A. a few decades ago, so I want to help them build and shape that L.A. culture.”
For most fans or players, going from the Lakers to Clippers could be considered a downgrade. The Clippers, after all, are a sideshow in their own city while the Lakers have more glitz and glamour than any other team in the league. Even so, Hachimura is excited for his new beginning and is ready to help usher in a new era in Los Angeles.
