Rui Hachimura’s Recovery: Latest on Lakers’ Forward After Nose Surgery

The LA Lakers forward Rui Hachimura has undergone a procedure to repair a nasal fracture after sustaining an injury during a game against the Dallas Mavericks. He will be reevaluated by the team doctors in approximately one week. This adds to the Lakers’ ongoing roster injuries. Hachimura played 12 games this season, averaging 11.8 points. He has been a crucial contributor to the team’s performance.

As per the UK’s National Health Service website, a broken nose typically heals naturally within three weeks. The severity of Hachimura’s injury remains unclear, and future updates will be provided once he is reevaluated next week. This injury further deepens the Lakers’ frontcourt shortage.

The Lakers have faced player shortages with Jarred Vanderbilt out the entire duration and Gabe Vincent sidelined for a substantial portion of the season. Currently, only three Lakers players have been healthy and available for all 16 games: D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Christian Wood.

The Lakers have had an erratic start to the season, with two three-game winning streaks and one three-game losing streak. At present, they hold the seventh seed in the Western Conference with a 9-7 record and are gearing up for a four-game road trip against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Following the road stretch, they will return home to face the Houston Rockets. Eleven of their next 15 games are scheduled to be played on the road.

Looking at Rui Hachimura’s career with the Lakers so far, he was acquired in a midseason trade and contributed to the team’s success by playing in 33 regular-season games, averaging 9.6 ppg and 4.7 rpg. His performance escalated in the playoffs, averaging 12.2 ppg and showcasing an impressive 48.7% shooting accuracy from beyond the arc. The Lakers signed Hachimura to a three-year, $51 million deal this past offseason.