Rui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers plays against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles on Oct. 21, 2025. (NBAE/Getty/Kyodo)
LOS ANGELES (Kyodo) — Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura attributed a lack of rhythm and familiarity among the team’s new-look roster for Tuesday’s season-opening 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Luka Doncic poured in a game-high 43 points at Crypto.com Arena for a Lakers outfit missing veteran superstar LeBron James, who has been sidelined for the start of the season by sciatica.
Japan national basketball team star Hachimura had nine points, four rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes as the team’s starting power forward.
“This is probably the second game we’ve played together with everybody, and we’re still trying to figure out our rhythm,” Hachimura said.
“We had a lot of practices, but in the (preseason) games, somebody was out or somebody (else) was in. So, especially against Golden State, who’ve been playing together for probably four or five years, I think that was the difference. Other than that, we did a lot of the things that we’re supposed to do.
Following a close first half, the Lakers let the game slip away as they were outgunned 35-25 by the Warriors in the third quarter.
Hachimura said the Lakers’ poor third-quarter play was among the issues the team would look to iron out as it targets a championship this season.
“It’s part of the process. We’re going to be better,” he said. “We’ve got to lock in as a team and be ready to play basketball from the start of the third quarter.”
Hachimura was cheered from the courtside by Japanese Formula One driver Yuki Tsunoda, who competed in the United States Grand Prix over the weekend.
The 203-centimeter Hachimura posed for a pregame photo with the 161-cm Tsunoda and presented him with an autographed jersey.
