Rui Hachimura is a strong and athletic power forward. Coming from Japan, he has already played for two NBA teams at just 26 years old. Currently, he is playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. There are not many things that this young guy can’t do. He can dunk, and shoot 3’s, has a great mid-range shot, and good defense. Hachimura is a young phenom from Japan with loads of potential. Some folks even compare him to Kawhi.

The Japanese forward has been turning heads since his arrival to the league in 2019 with his amazing game and people are keen to know more about him and his personal life. Want to have a closer look? Let’s dive in!

Rui Hachimura Ethnicity

Hachimura’s parents

Rui Hachimura grew up in Toyama, Japan. His mother’s name is Makiko Hachimura she is from Japan. His father Zakari Jabil is from Benin, West Africa. That makes Hachimura half-Japanese and half-African. Being half-black, he had a tough upbringing. He along with his two siblings had go through racial discrimination growing up. “A lot of people looked at me weird. They’d never seen black people before.” Hachimura said in a CBS article.

His brother Allen is an active basketball player like him and currently plays for the Gunma Crane Thunders. Moreover, his sister Amina is passionate about basketball as well. She was a member of the high school women’s basketball team. So, it is safe to say that basketball runs in the family. Despite the difficulties he had to face as a young child, Hachimura said he identified more with Japanese culture because that was where he grew up and spent the majority of his life.

High school to college

Growing up, Hachimura attended Meisei High School in Japan. Although baseball was his first love, he found out that his athleticism had better use for basketball. It’s better to say that he was graced with athleticism, which helped carry him up the national basketball ranks. During his time as a high schooler, he led his team to their second state title win in the all-Japan high school tournament.

During his college, he played for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, where he continued his impressive performance. He led Gonzaga in scoring, averaging 19.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and shot 51.7% from deep. He was also awarded the 2019 West Coast Conference player of the year award in 2019.

With his stirring performance in college, the NBA soon came calling.

Hachimura’s run in the NBA

Rui Hachimura has been in the NBA since 2019. He played for the Washington Wizards for four seasons from 2019 to 2023. Even though he had a slow start with the Wizards, he developed his game eventually. By the time he left Washington, his 3 point game had vastly improved.

Hachimura was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023. As a Laker, he played a huge part in their 2023 playoff run. He’s clearly a great asset for them and continues to perform at a high level. Even though he is coming off the bench now, there is no question that he will be a starter in the near future.

As of now, he has not had much success with the international team. But, he has got plenty of time on his hands to make his country proud. Will he be able to do it?

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