Rui Hachimura
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Lakers' Rui Hachimura during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies in October 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers received a much-needed piece of positive injury news on Thursday, with Rui Hachimura upgraded to questionable ahead of Friday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Hachimura has been sidelined with a right calf strain suffered late last month, missing the last five games, and while the Lakers have taken a cautious approach throughout his recovery, his upgrade on the injury report signals meaningful progress towards a return.
The 27-year-old missed the recent two-game road trip against the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs, remaining in Los Angeles to continue his rehab.
He was assigned to the Lakers’ G League affiliate for on-court work, a common final step for players nearing a return to game action.
While Austin Reaves and rookie Adou Thiero remain out, LeBron James is also listed as questionable after missing Wednesday’s loss to San Antonio with left foot joint arthritis and right sciatica.
Lakers Eye Stability as Hachimura Nears Return
Hachimura’s potential return would provide welcome stability for a Lakers team that has relied heavily on makeshift rotations in recent weeks.
Through 27 games this season, Hachimura is averaging 12.7 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 52.1% from the field and a career-high 44.5% from three-point range on 4.1 attempts per game, cementing his value as a reliable two-way contributor.
His absence, combined with injuries to Reaves and Gabe Vincent, has forced Los Angeles to dig deeper into the rotation. Vincent returned against the Spurs after missing time with a lower back injury, though the team continues to monitor his workload closely as it eases back toward full health.
Jake LaRavia has benefited most from the opportunity. Elevated into the starting lineup, he responded with 21 and 26 points in back-to-back wins over the Memphis Grizzlies to open the new year, before adding 16 points and seven rebounds against San Antonio while knocking down four three-pointers.
Beyond scoring, LaRavia has also provided consistent defensive activity, recording 10 steals across the five games Hachimura has missed, helping fill gaps on both ends of the floor.
Rotation Questions Persist as Lakers Await Reinforcements
While there have been calls for LaRavia to remain in the starting lineup, the impending returns of Hachimura and Vincent are critical simply to restore NBA-ready depth.
That need has been magnified with players like Bronny James, Maxi Kleber, and Dalton Knecht occupying full roster spots with limited production.
Los Angeles currently rank last in the NBA in bench scoring at 24.9 points per game, a significant margin behind the rest of the league. The lack of secondary production has placed added strain on the starters and limited lineup flexibility.
Whether Hachimura returns to the starting lineup or comes off the bench, his presence would help address both scoring and spacing concerns. Even so, perimeter shooting remains an issue, as the Lakers rank 25th league-wide in made three-pointers per game at 11.6, a problem compounded by Reaves’ absence too.
As the roster inches closer to full strength, questions remain around James’ availability. Now 41, he was expected to sit out the recent back-to-back, and his continued questionable status has drawn attention.
“I’m 41-years-old, every back-to-back is TBD,” James recently told reporters. “Every back-to-back for the rest of the season is TBD. I am 41, I got the most minutes in NBA history—bank it right now, OK? What are we talking about?”
Whether James’ status is tactical or health-related, it adds another layer of uncertainty for a Lakers team still searching for consistency.
Following the loss to San Antonio, Los Angeles sits 23-12 on the season, fifth in the Western Conference, two games back of the Spurs in second, with the Oklahoma City Thunder holding a comfortable lead at the top.