Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura is still on a minutes restriction as he works to regain his strength and conditioning following a knee injury.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura has been available for over a week now, after missing a month due to patellar tendinopathy—a knee injury that is likely to bother him until the end of the season.
Hachimura is currently on a minutes restriction and is expected to remain under these limits until the start of the playoffs, as the Lakers work to bring him back to his best possible form.
"They’re trying to keep him in that sweet spot—enough minutes to stay sharp, but not too many to risk setbacks," Jovan Buha of The Athletic said on his podcast. "You can tell Rui is still getting his legs under him. He’s working hard, but there are moments when you can see the fatigue set in."
"Having Rui at full strength gives the Lakers another weapon—his versatility on both ends is something they’re going to need," he added.
In the five games since returning from injury, Hachimura has averaged 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.8 steals in about 26 minutes per game, as he works to regain his form before the playoffs begin.
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