A former NBA star recently named Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura the best third- and fourth-string options in the league.

That same night, I got a call from my agent again. He said, ‘The Lakers want you.’ And I was like, ‘Lakers? What Lakers?’ Because I never even thought that I’d be a Laker. Right? So I’m like, ‘Wait, what?

LeBron James added 25 points, Austin Reaves scored 23 and Rui Hachimura had 21 when he left holding his left side with 10 minutes remaining — the Lakers didn’t miss him, going on a 12-2 run to stretch their lead to 19.

Sportsbooks may need to adjust odds based on Hachimura’s numbers, while Reaves’ performance may be fool’s gold. With the absence of Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell, Reaves seems like the natural third banana to Dončić and James.

Haxson Hayes, Rui Hachimura, and Jarred Vanderbilt must step up as JJ Redick looks to adjust the team’s strategy. Can this new-look Lakers squad survive without their defensive anchor?

Hachimura briefly left early in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game after appearing tweaking his back. He was evaluated by trainers in the locker room, but the injury doesn't appear to be severe enough for him to be sidelined for the rest of the contest.

Los Angeles Lakers starting forward Rui Hachimura left the Nuggets game in the fourth quarter with an apparent injury. Hachimura left the floor in pain and went straight to the bench. The 27-year-old went to the locker room.

Lakers forward Rui Hachimura exited to the locker room with an apparent injury during the team’s game against the Nuggets.

Luka Doncic is set to face his former team for the first time since his shocking trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Slovenian superstar will host the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night in what promises to be an emotional encounter.

The Los Angeles Lakers will be seriously tested this evening as they visit the Denver Nuggets, a team that has a 37-19 record and a nine-game winning streak. The Lakers, who are 33-21, are looking to resume the momentum they were building prior to the All-Star break and continue to move up the Western Conference standings.

While the Los Angeles Lakers made headlines with one of the biggest trades in recent NBA history, Japanese forward Rui Hachimura c