The Los Angeles Lakers began the NBA trade deadline by landing Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards.
The former No. 9 overall pick has played fairly well since arriving in Los Angeles. It was a great trade for the Los Angeles front office, especially considering that they didn’t have to surrender many assets in order to land the 24-year-old forward.
Hachimura, who was 47.0 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers for the Wizards last season, already had established chemistry with Lakers guard Russell Westbrook.
Fans may not have known he is also a fan of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.
During a recent interview with Stephen A. Smith, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said that Hachimura chose his number because he was inspired by Bryant and his late daughter Gianna (via Know Mercy with Stephen A. Smith):
“Our new player, Hachimura … I asked him: Have you chosen a number yet? He said: ‘Yeah, I’m wearing No. 28.’ I said, ‘Oh great!’ and he said ‘Because of No. 2 for Gianna and No. 8 for Kobe.'” I was like, ‘This kid is going to do good.’ I like where his heart is at.”
He said that Bryant is the reason he began playing basketball in Japan.
Hachimura wore No. 8 during his time playing for the Wizards, but that number was unavailable because the franchise retired it when Bryant ended his career.
