Rui Hachimura’s Message After Luka Doncic Update

The Los Angeles Lakers are getting ready to face the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of their first-round series in the NBA Playoffs on Tuesday, April 21. They picked up a 107-98 Game 1 win despite being without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Doncic and Reaves picked up injuries in the final week of the NBA regular season, with both currently sidelined and expected to miss the first few games of the Lakers-Rockets playoff matchup. Both missed Game 1 and were just officially ruled out for Game 2.

Doncic spent the last week in Europe, reportedly seeking experimental therapy to try and fast-track his return to the court for the postseason. He's back in LA now and expected to be with the team for the rest of the series, even if he's not playing himself.

Lakers forward Rui Hachimuraspoke to reporters after practice on Monday and highlighted the importance of Doncic's presence at that practice after being asked about Doncic trying to prank him on-court.

"He's always doing this. I don't even think about it, I'm used to it."

"It's amazing. People don’t know how much impact Luka has, not only on the court but off the court. He's a guy who always wants to be around. We love him just being around, just hanging out, talking. We're happy he's back, finally. He’s doing the funny things like always, so we missed him for sure. Messing around with coaches and players.”