Getty
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to basket with Austin Reaves.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura delivered his most pointed criticism of the season after the team’s 125–108 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, a defeat that snapped their seven-game winning streak and exposed long-standing issues in the Lakers’ offensive hierarchy.
Hachimura, who finished the night without a made field goal, attempted just one shot in 23 minutes, a startlingly low involvement for a starter expected to be a key floor-spacer and scorer.
“I don’t remember when I had the ball this whole game,” Hachimura said, visibly frustrated after the loss. “That’s happened. Playing with these guys, I signed up for that. I understand it. But with this, I think the whole team understands — that’s not how we’re gonna win.”
The Lakers, who entered the night averaging 26.1 assists per game, produced just 18 assists on 80 shot attempts — one of their least connected offensive performances since the start of their win streak.
Hachimura Calls Out Lakers for ‘Not Playing for Each Other’
Hachimura emphasized that the Lakers’ recent success stemmed from trust, ball movement, and shared responsibility — all of which were missing against Phoenix.
“Those games that we’ve been winning, we’ve been passing to each other, we’ve been trusting each other, we play for each other,” he said. “Yeah, it’s a tough one for me, but it is what it is. It’s one of those games I gotta just scratch out and play the next game.”
But beneath the professionalism, Hachimura made it clear: the Lakers played selfishly.
“We just got to trust each other,” he said. “Of course, Luka and Austin Reaves have the ball all the time… they get a lot of attention. They’re trying to blitz them, double-team, all that. So all the other guys got to be in the right spots and be ready to shoot, be ready to make another play.”
His message was unmistakable — the Lakers’ stars dominated the offense at the expense of team flow.
Hachimura’s Lack of Involvement Reaches Rare Territory
Getty Rui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers is defended by Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns.
Tuesday’s game marked only the third time in Hachimura’s Lakers tenure that he attempted one field goal:
- March 24, 2023 vs. Thunder: 1 shot (14 minutes)
- Dec. 31, 2023 vs. Pelicans: 1 shot in 8 minutes before leaving with injury
- Tuesday vs. Suns: 1 shot in 23 minutes, the most concerning instance yet
Unlike the previous occasions, Hachimura was fully healthy and played a starter’s workload, yet barely touched the ball.
Doncic, Reaves Shoulder Heavy Load — and Turnovers
Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves took 38 of the Lakers’ 80 shots, nearly half the team’s attempts. While both produced offense, the decision-making proved costly.
Dončić finished with 38 points on 15-of-26 shooting, but he also had 9 turnovers, more than his 5 assists. He ended with a game-worst -25 plus-minus.
“That was my fault,” Dončić admitted. “No way I can have nine turnovers in a game.”
Reaves made 6-of-12 shots but posted 5 turnovers against 3 assists, including four turnovers in a disastrous second quarter that helped Phoenix pull away.
“I dribbled the ball literally out of bounds one time,” Reaves said. “I was bad in that aspect. I’ve got to be better.”
Lakers Must Restore Ball Movement to Avoid Repeat Collapse
While the Lakers had won seven straight entering Tuesday, the Suns exposed a recurring flaw — a stagnant, star-heavy offense that sidelines role players like Hachimura and reduces the Lakers’ spacing and rhythm.
Hachimura made clear that the Lakers’ identity must change back to the unselfish version that fueled their winning streak.
“Today was the game that we didn’t really play for each other,” he said.
Whether the Lakers adjust — or allow frustration to fester — could define the next stretch of their season.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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