Luka Doncic is barely one year removed from competing for a championship in the 2024 NBA Finals. It's a simple fact that has driven much of the excitement behind the Los Angeles Lakers building for a future that will, in large part, center around Doncic.
As the Lakers look to build the best possible roster around their new franchise player, Rui Hachimura shouldn't hesitate to follow the example set by one of Doncic's former teammates: P.J. Washington.
Washington joined the Dallas Mavericks as a mid-season acquisition during the 2023-24 campaign. He quickly developed into a perfect fit alongside Doncic, thriving in every phase of the game that the superstar could've asked him to.
For as daunting as it may be to ask Hachimura to do the same, there's reason to believe that their similarities permit results of a familiar nature.
Physically, Hachimura and Washington both stand between 6'6" and 6'8" with powerful 230-pound frames and wingspans that extend beyond 7'0". They're also capable three-point shooters, effortlessly explosive athletes, and versatile defenders.
Their similarities don't necessarily create the foundation for exact replication, but if Hachimura can operate at a level similar to what Washington reached alongside Doncic, the Lakers can contend.
Rui Hachimura can recreate P.J. Washington formula with Luka Doncic
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Hachimura is riding high after producing one of the best seasons of his NBA career in 2024-25. He set career-best marks in three-point field goals made and attempted, embraced the opportunity to corner crash, and often acted as the source of energy for the Lakers both before and after the Doncic trade.
The 2025 NBA Playoffs revealed the unpredictability that still prevents Hachimura from solidifying his future, however, and the Lakers can't afford to overlook that fact in a contract year.
Hachimura scored 23 points in both Game 4 and Game 5 of Los Angeles' first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He averaged just 9.3 points on 40.0 percent shooting between the first three games, however, during which the Lakers fell behind 0-3.
One can only hope that Games 4 and 5 were a sign of things to come—or, perhaps, that they're indicative of Hachimura's ability to replicate Washington's postseason success.
When Doncic led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals, Washington stepped up with explosive offensive performances. He was relatively quiet during the first round, but averaged 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds during the second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder—ripping off three straight 20-point games.
Washington admittedly fell victim to the same bouts of inconsistency as Hachimura, but his peaks alleviated significant pressure from Doncic and Kyrie Irving during the run to the NBA Finals.
If Hachimura can [set a higher baseline](https://lakeshowlife.com/biggest-winner-deandre-ayton-signing-gifted-shot-lucrative-lakers-future) for his performances while managing to erupt in a similar capacity when the team needs him to, the Lakers can take the next step. Even beyond Hachimura, Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves lead a deep and talented roster flush with the potential to contend.
Hachimura is already on the right track, but if he can come up with the same postseason magic as Washington, the Lakers will have no trouble making noise in 2025-26.