Why Is Rui Hachimura Wearing a Mask? A Look at NBA’s Policy on Masks as Lakers Forward’s Comes Back in New Look

The Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up to face the Phoenix Suns in the In Season quarterfinals, and there’s a slew of positive updates for the team. With over 90% of the squad deemed game-ready, the return of Rui Hachimura to the active rotation is a particularly exciting development. Hachimura’s presence is expected to have a significant impact against the Suns, given his length and shooting abilities. Moreover, it will provide the team with advantages on both ends of the floor.

Now, the Lakers can look past just playing catch-up games. Instead, they can focus on denting the Western Conference with a series of efficient winning streaks. Fortunately, the quarterfinals mark the beginning of this endeavor.

Why is Rui Hachimura wearing a mask?

Rui Hachimura is wearing a mask to protect his nose from further injuries. Given the fact that he is coming off surgery and his body is recovering, the mask is extremely necessary to avoid any more injuries. Rui was spotted donning a mask during the practice sessions leading to the game against the Suns. In the recent stretch, he has been absent from the last five Lakers’ games due to a nasal fracture. Rui sustained the injury against the Dallas Mavericks, resulting in a nasal fracture.

When talking about his injury, Hachimura recalled the moment, saying, “It was in the first quarter against Dallas. I went to drive and went to the basket and I got blocked and I fell. And I think one of the players kind of ran into me and hit my nose.”

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Rui was soon aligned for a minor surgery two days later and a mandated minimum one-week recovery period. Hachimura’s mask not only protects against further injuries but also enables him to take to the court during his recovery phase.

Masks were once banned in the NBA

Over the years, numerous NBA players have sported face masks, with a select few turning them into iconic trademarks. In 2003, Rip Hamilton made it a classic. Kobe Bryant became ‘Masked Mamba’ in 2012. Kyrie Irving donned one in 2012, dropping 41 at MSG, while LeBron James sported the look in 2014, dropping his career high while masked up.

Despite fans adoring the look, the NBA briefly banned them. The league raised safety concerns on the court; due to obstruction of vision to notice other players, the ball, and the court markings. Furthermore, there were also speculations that opponents can’t see the wearer’s eye, making things difficult on the court.

However, in 2018, the NBA reversed the ban on black face masks after medical clearance. The league determined that black masks did not present a significant safety risk on the court. This decision also nodded to the fact that black masks were the most comfortable and effective option for players to recover from facial injuries.

Now, players have the freedom to wear masks, provided they are approved by the medical staff and do not pose a safety risk to themselves or other players on the court.

What do you make of masked Rui’s debut? Do you think he’ll follow the trend of NBA players becoming better scorers with masks on?

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