Rui Hachimura is a professional basketball player from Japan. Born on February 8, 1998, he achieved success from a young age winning titles in his high school career.
He is one of the international youngsters who have become a household name with the basketball fanatics.
He began his basketball journey in high school and continued it to the professional stage. He is a player who made it to the biggest stage, starting his basketball fairly later than one normally does.
Rui initially decided to go play for the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the US. He then realised that he would have to take a different approach than most players. He made his debut for Gonzaga in November 2016 but got very little playtime.
Rui slowly chipped away at his playing times and improved his skills over the years until his junior season, when he opened up the game with 33-points to his name.
He was named WCC Player of the Year and the MVP of the tournament.
Rui is now playing for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association and additionally plays for the Japanese National team.
Rui Hachimura’s Age
Rui Hachimura is now 25 years old. His name was given to him by his grandfather. He is of mixed heritage, half Japanese and half Beninese.
He started playing basketball when he was 13 years old. He is ever so grateful to his coach, Joji Sakamoto in middle school who helped him find out his weaknesses and also pointed out the potential in him.
Standing at 6 ft 8 inches, Rui Hachimura is one of the brightest young stars in the league. His nickname is the Black Samurai.
His highschool career was spent in his country Japan. Rui was considered to be one of the elite international players joining the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
NBA Career
After his successful college year, Rui decided to try his luck in the NBA. He was picked by the Washington Wizards at 9th overall in the NBA draft of 2019.
In his rookie year, he scored his first career high 30 points against the Los Angeles Clippers. Rui was elected for the second-team NBA All-Rookie team despite missing a significant chunk of the season due to his injury.
His three-point shooting improved drastically over the years. His improved catch and shoot game made the Los Angeles Lakers decide to get him. He has incredible star capability and a strong backing from his country.
Rui was able to sign a multi-year shoe deal with the Jordan brand. He also has deals with brands such as Nissin Foods and GOAT.
He is an inspiration to young athletes who started late in their basketball journey. He has shown the world that if put in the proper work and dedication, anything can be achieved.
FAQs
A. He signed a 4 year, $20 million contract with the Washington Wizards. He had an annual salary of $5 million dollars.
A. Rui Hachimura is currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He was drafted by the Washington Wizards in 2019.
A. Dwight Powell joined the NBA in 2019 and made his debut on December 1st.
A. In the past, Rui has worked with brands like G Shock, MGM National Harbour, Cannondale and Playstation.
A. Hachimura holds the position of power forward in the basketball court.
