Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Rui Hachimura

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 12, 2026

Discover the career path of Rui Hachimura, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Rui Hachimura is a professional basketball player currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. Born in Toyama, Japan, to a Japanese mother and Beninese father, he made history as the first Japanese player to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft when the Washington Wizards chose him ninth overall in 2019. After playing college basketball at Gonzaga University, where he earned All-American honors, Hachimura developed into a versatile forward known for his mid-range shooting and defensive capabilities. Beyond his NBA career, he is a prominent national icon and key player for the Japan men's national basketball team, representing his country in major global competitions such as the Olympics. Hachimura is widely recognized for breaking barriers for Asian players in the NBA and serving as a major ambassador for basketball in Japan.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

December 29, 2013: All-Japan High School Tournament Victory

On December 29, 2013, Rui Hachimura led Meisei High School to win their second All-Japan High School Tournament title by scoring 32 points in a 92-78 victory against Fukuoka University Ohori.

2013: 2013 FIBA Asia U16 Championship performance

During the 2013 FIBA Asia U16 Championship held in Iran, Rui Hachimura delivered an impressive performance, averaging 22.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game over eight contests, which ultimately helped Japan secure a third-place finish in the tournament.

April 2014: Albert Schweitzer Tournament participation

In April 2014, Hachimura represented Japan's under-18 national team at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament held in Germany; the team ultimately finished in last place during this international competition.

2014: 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship Performance

During the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships, Rui Hachimura led his team by scoring a tournament-high 22.6 points per game, alongside 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per contest, notably scoring 25 points against the eventual champion USA team.

2014: Consecutive Tournament Championship

In 2014, Hachimura successfully helped his high school basketball team secure their second consecutive All-Japan High School Tournament title.

April 2015: Participation in Jordan Brand Classic

In April 2015, Hachimura competed in the International Game at the Jordan Brand Classic, where he contributed nine points and five rebounds to his performance.

November 21, 2015: Signing with Gonzaga Bulldogs

On November 21, 2015, Rui Hachimura officially signed a National Letter of Intent to play collegiate basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, gaining recognition from ESPN as a top-tier international prospect.

December 29, 2015: All-Japan Tournament Victory with Meisei

On December 29, 2015, Hachimura led Meisei High School to his third All-Japan Tournament title by delivering an impressive performance of 34 points, 19 rebounds, and three blocks against Tsuchiura Nihon University High School.

May 2016: Academic Eligibility Confirmation

In May 2016, Hachimura confirmed that he had achieved the required SAT scores and GPA to qualify for college athletics, announcing his intent to play for Gonzaga starting in the fall 2016 season as a true freshman rather than redshirting.

November 11, 2016: NCAA Regular Season Debut

On November 11, 2016, Rui Hachimura made his regular season debut for the Gonzaga Bulldogs against Utah Valley, recording one point and three rebounds and becoming the fifth Japanese-born player to play NCAA Division I basketball.

2016: Joins Gonzaga University

In 2016, Rui Hachimura joined the Gonzaga University basketball program, marking his entry as the fifth Japanese-born player to play men's NCAA Division I basketball.

February 23, 2017: WCC Title Victory

On February 23, 2017, Hachimura contributed eight points to help the Gonzaga Bulldogs secure the West Coast Conference (WCC) title during a game against San Diego.

March 16, 2017: Historic NCAA Tournament Appearance

On March 16, 2017, Hachimura made history as the first Japanese native to appear in an NCAA Division I men's tournament game, playing one minute against South Dakota State.

2017: 2017–18 Gonzaga Basketball Campaign

During the 2017 portion of the 2017–18 collegiate basketball season, Rui Hachimura played in 37 total games for Gonzaga University. Throughout this campaign, he secured two starts and maintained an average performance of 11.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

2017: 2017 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup Participation

In 2017, Hachimura represented Japan in the FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, where he served as a standout performer by averaging team-leading figures of 20.6 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.

2017: NCAA Tournament Debut

In 2017, Rui Hachimura made history by becoming the first Japanese national player to participate in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

November 6, 2018: Season Opener Performance against Idaho State

On November 6, 2018, Rui Hachimura delivered an impressive start to his junior season by scoring 33 points during Gonzaga's 120–79 victory over Idaho State.

November 21, 2018: Maui Invitational Finals Victory and MVP Honors

On November 21, 2018, Hachimura helped lead Gonzaga to an upset victory over the No. 1-ranked Duke team in the Maui Invitational finals, recording 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, which led to him being named the tournament MVP.

April 15, 2019: Declaration for the 2019 NBA Draft

On April 15, 2019, Rui Hachimura announced his decision to bypass his final year of college eligibility to enter the 2019 NBA draft. He was subsequently selected ninth overall by the Washington Wizards, marking the first time a Japanese player was selected in the first round of the NBA draft.

October 23, 2019: NBA Regular Season Debut

On October 23, 2019, Rui Hachimura officially made his NBA debut as a starter for the Washington Wizards. Despite the team's 100–108 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Hachimura recorded an impressive double-double consisting of 14 points and 10 rebounds.

December 1, 2019: Career-High Scoring Performance

On December 1, 2019, Rui Hachimura achieved a new career-high by scoring 30 points during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Although the Washington Wizards lost 125–150, Hachimura contributed a well-rounded stat line that included nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

December 2019: Historic NBA Matchup with Yuta Watanabe

In December 2019, Rui Hachimura made history alongside Yuta Watanabe of the Memphis Grizzlies by becoming the first two Japanese players to compete against each other in an NBA game.

2019: FIBA World Cup Qualification Victory

During a 2019 qualification round for the FIBA World Cup, Rui Hachimura delivered a standout performance by scoring 25 points, which was instrumental in leading Japan to a 70–56 victory over Iran.

2019: WCC Player of the Year Selection

In 2019, Hachimura was recognized for his outstanding performance throughout the season by being selected as the WCC Player of the Year.

2019: NBA Draft Selection

In 2019, Rui Hachimura reached a significant career milestone when he was selected ninth overall in the NBA draft by the Washington Wizards.

September 15, 2020: Named to NBA All-Rookie Second Team

On September 15, 2020, Rui Hachimura received league-wide recognition for his professional debut performance by being officially named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

2020: NBA All-Rookie Selection

Following his debut season, Rui Hachimura was honored with a selection to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2020.

March 30, 2021: Career-High Scoring Performance vs Charlotte Hornets

On March 30, 2021, Rui Hachimura achieved a significant career milestone by tying his personal high of 30 points during a game against the Charlotte Hornets, although his team ultimately fell short in a 104–114 loss.

January 9, 2022: 2021-22 Season Debut

Rui Hachimura officially made his season debut on January 9, 2022, contributing six points and three rebounds to help the Washington Wizards secure a narrow 102–100 victory against the Orlando Magic.

2022: 2022-2023 Season Statistics

Throughout the 2022-2023 season, Rui Hachimura demonstrated consistent performance, recording an average of 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while maintaining a 48.6% field goal shooting percentage.

January 21, 2023: Career-High Performance Against Orlando Magic

On January 21, 2023, Rui Hachimura delivered a standout performance in his final game for his team before being traded, scoring a career-high-tying 30 points while contributing five rebounds and two blocks to secure a 138–118 victory over the Orlando Magic.

January 23, 2023: Trade to the Los Angeles Lakers

On January 23, 2023, Rui Hachimura was officially traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, with the Washington Wizards receiving Kendrick Nunn and three second-round draft picks in return for the forward.

July 6, 2023: Rui Hachimura re-signs with the Lakers

On July 6, 2023, Rui Hachimura officially extended his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers by signing a new contract with the team.

2023: Lakers Playoff Performance

During the 2023 NBA playoffs, Rui Hachimura became a key rotation player for the Los Angeles Lakers. In his postseason debut for the team in 2023, he scored 29 points to help defeat the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1. Later, in the Western Conference Finals, he took on the difficult task of guarding Nikola Jokić, though the Lakers were eventually swept by the Denver Nuggets in the series.

February 14, 2024: Career-High Scoring Performance against the Utah Jazz

On February 14, 2024, Rui Hachimura delivered an exceptional performance, scoring a career-high 36 points to lead his team to a 138–122 victory over the Utah Jazz.

2024: Rui Hachimura 2024-25 NBA Season Performance

During the 2024 season, Rui Hachimura maintained a scoring average of 13.1 points per game. He achieved a season-high of 24 points in a win against the Indiana Pacers and a loss to the Golden State Warriors on April 3, 2024. Additionally, he averaged 14.8 points per game during the first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

December 4, 2025: First Career Game-Winning Buzzer-Beater

On December 4, 2025, Rui Hachimura achieved a significant milestone by sinking the first game-winning buzzer-beater of his professional career, scoring 12 points total and securing a 123–120 victory for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Toronto Raptors.

July 6, 2026: Rui Hachimura Signs with Los Angeles Clippers

On July 6, 2026, professional basketball player Rui Hachimura finalized a contract agreement with the Los Angeles Clippers, signing a two-year deal valued at $28 million.