Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Shohei Ohtani watches fellow Japanese athlete Rui Hachimura at Lakers-Wizards game

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 11/30/19

Shohei Ohtani sat courtside for Friday night’s Los Angeles Lakers-Washington Wizards game to watch a fellow countryman ball out.

Ohtani was at the game watching Rui Hachimura, who was a first-round pick by the Wizards in this year’s draft.

Japanese sports royalty is in L.A. tonight as Angels pitcher/slugger Shohei Ohtani sits courtside to watch Rui Hachimura. (Flea of the RHCP is next to him) pic.twitter.com/wPlHTPp9IH

— Chase Hughes (@ChaseHughesNBCS) November 30, 2019

Rui Hachimura x Shohei Ohtani pic.twitter.com/P7a8mPvG1Y
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) November 30, 2019

Hachimura is from Japan and was the first Japanese player ever drafted in the first round of the NBA draft. Hachimura played college ball at Gonzaga for three seasons and is a member of Japan’s national team.

Ohtani is from Japan and played professional baseball there until deciding to sign with the Angels in December 2017. He is recovering from Tommy John surgery and looking forward to resuming his pitching career next year.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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