Rui Hachimura: That night, I got a call from my agent again. He said, ‘Lakers want you.’ And I’m like, ‘Lakers? What Lakers? ‘Because I don’t even think I’m a linker. Isn’t it? So I’m like, ‘Wait, what? What? The Lakers? ‘I didn’t know what he said. He said, ‘Lakers. Do you remember the Lakers? They want you. ‘And I’m like,’ wait … no, I’m not like that.
I don’t have to do. No, no. Too much. Maximum pressure. I’m not ready for that. ‘ I think, ‘I’m just going to a team where I can see my minutes, prove myself, and build from there.’ I’m like, ‘No, no, no, don’t do that trade.’ My agent said, ‘Are you sure?’ I say, ‘Yes, I don’t like that. Let me think about it a day. ‘The next day, I was with the phone again, and asked,’ Are you sure you don’t like it? I think it’s a perfect fit for you. ‘I asked,’ Why? ‘ And he explained, ‘Look, the Lakers are fighting today. They almost hold back, face wounds, trying to make playoffs. ‘I think they are the 11th seeds in time. He said, ‘They need you.’