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See the full story · 1 sourcesRui Hachimura speaks about leaving the Lakers to cross town and play for the Clippers originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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After a successful couple of seasons, Rui Hachimura has left the Los Angeles Lakers . It was a big blow for the Lakers because they could have retained him and made him one of the fixtures of the starting lineup. His three-point shooting and defense make him a perfect fit alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, but unfortunately, he has left.
In terms of proximity, Hachimura will still be around because he is staying in the same city. He will be playing for the Los Angeles Clippers , which is not a big adjustment for him geographically, but it shows that he wanted a different situation with his NBA team.
Rui Hachimura dives into his decision to cross town and play for the Clippers
In his four seasons playing for the Lakers, Hachimura became one of the most reliable players on the roster. He was quite reliable, as he became a sharpshooter who benefited from playmakers like LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Doncic.
Now, the Lakers have let go of both Hachimura and James during the 2026 offseason. They have gone through a massive change as they have committed to the Doncic and Reaves duo with new massive contracts, and they also traded for Walker Kessler.
MORE: The reason why the Lakers let Rui Hachimura go and sign with the Clippers
Hachimura seems excited to get a fresh start with the Clippers . It is not a big change for him geographically because he can stay in the same place he has been in for the past four years. However, he is now ready to compete with the Clippers.
"I’m excited. It's a fresh start and a brand new source of motivation. Even though I'm staying in LA, it's a completely different team, competing for a championship; pushing for the Playoffs is a massive motivator for me," Hachimura said to ClutchPoints' Tomer Azarly .
Moving forward, Hachimura won't have the contender status with the Clippers just yet. They are a developing team, and as a veteran, he can contribute and prove to be one of the most reliable players on the roster alongside the likes of Darius Garland and Kris Dunn.
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