Because of a knee injury, Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura has missed each of the team’s last 12 games. Furthermore, he has yet to suit up in the month of March.
Recently, NBA insider Shams Charania reported that there was some optimism that Hachimura would make his return soon. While the Lakers have won three of their last four games, it is safe to assume they want Hachimura back on the court as soon as possible as they look to gain momentum heading into the playoffs.
Ahead of their game against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, the Lakers made an announcement regarding Hachimura and provided an update on his status.
Hachimura has not appeared on the court in nearly a month. However, he could make his return on Saturday as the team has upgraded him to questionable before their game against Chicago.
Now in his second full season with the Lakers, Hachimura is a valuable asset on the team. Through 50 games this season (all starts), the Japanese native is averaging 13.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. He is also shooting 50.6% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc.
The Lakers, who currently own the No. 3 seed in the West, will likely welcome all the reinforcements they can get. They are looking to make a late-season push and rank as high as possible in the standings. The No. 1 seed is officially out of their grasp. However, even just landing the No. 2 seed could be crucial to their playoff success.