JJ Redick talks timetable for return from Rui Hachimura’s calf injury

Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura did not play in Friday’s 132-74 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors because of a calf problem.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick opted to rest Hachimura, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, Max Christie and D’Angelo Russell during the team’s final preseason game. Davis, Reaves, Knecht, Christie and Russell played in the Lakers’ preseason overtime win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

Redick doesn’t think Hachimura will miss opening night because of his calf problem. The Lakers will open their season on Tuesday when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

Hachimura has been struggling with calf problems since the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. While playing for Team Japan, Hachimura injured his calf in an overtime loss to France. Hachimura did not play again and has been dealing with discomfort in his calf as the season approaches.

Hachimura appeared in the Lakers’ first four preseason games this season and averaged 12.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game for the Lakers.

Although Hachimura missed the last two preseason games and was limited in the lead-up to the season, Redick recently praised the 26-year-old.

“Rui was great,” Redick said earlier this month. “I think we were still acclimatising when we had our first pre-season game. We had only trained three times and he wasn’t fully involved in training for most of September, he was off and on at the gym and had a few family matters.” So he was very committed to our lessons and the mornings we’re talking about today have spoken, feel that it was very helpful. And everything we asked him to do, he did, so he was great.”

Hachimura is entering his seventh NBA season and his third season with the Lakers. He will look to build on the 2023-24 season in which he averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

Hachimura first entered the NBA after being selected ninth overall in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards. He was named to the 2020 NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 13.5 points, 6.1 total rebounds and 1.8 assists.

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