Inside Rui Hachimura’s Unexpected Lakers Role That Could Change the Team’s Destiny

So here we are, on the edge of another NBA season, eyeballing the Los Angeles Lakers’ reshuffled deck — and suddenly, the burning question isn’t just who’ll score the most points, but who’ll actually get the nod to start. Enter Rui Hachimura, a guy quietly weaving his chemistry-boosting magic, potentially edging out the fresh-faced Marcus Smart. It’s a curious choice, right? Choosing continuity over novelty—building trust in familiar rhythms—to help spotlight Deandre Ayton, the team’s cornerstone, as he finds his groove. Does sticking with what works early on spell the Lakers’ secret weapon to dodge the brutal Western Conference chaos? Or could this conservative shuffle be a double-edged sword waiting to nick them? Let’s unravel the shifting tides in LA’s lineup and see if Hachimura’s seasoned presence will be the spark that lights up the hardwood this season.

Chicago Bulls v Los Angeles Lakers — (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers made significant changes over the summer, and fans are hopeful for what the season ahead could look like.

But even with the promising additions to the roster, there are still many questions about who will play.

New reporting suggests that Rui Hachimura might be starting over newcomer Marcus Smart.

“To Hachimura’s point, continuity is a factor, sources say. The Lakers will open the season with a lighter slate and are looking to rack up wins early so as to maintain a higher seeding in the brutal West. As four of the Lakers’ likely starters do have chemistry heading in, the hope is they can use that to help Ayton get comfortable and jump out on teams through offensive firepower,” Anthony Irwin said.

Rui Hachimura is reportedly favored to start over Marcus Smart in the Lakers’ starting lineup, per @AnthonyIrwinLA

“To Hachimura's point, continuity is a factor, sources say. The Lakers will open the season with a lighter slate and are looking to rack up wins early so as to… pic.twitter.com/Ghrk2sHovp

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 2, 2025

Building upon the chemistry already on the team is very important, especially because the Lakers are eager to make Deandre Ayton feel at home as soon as possible.

Ayton is a centerpiece of the Lakers’ plans for the 2025-26 season, and they need him to be at 100 percent and completely comfortable in the lineup quickly.

Starting Smart would be a good idea, but head coach JJ Redick is likely to use Hachimura instead.

Hachimura is starting his fourth season with the Lakers and has built a strong bond with the rest of the team.

Last season, he averaged 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds on 50.9 percent from the field.

He has been improving parts of his game, and fans are expecting he’ll continue to do that in the new year.

The Lakers want to stack up impressive wins right away, but they could make changes to the starting five if they don’t.

Having Smart come off the bench could be a huge blessing for Los Angeles and could keep the team incredibly competitive for all four quarters.

The post Details Emerge About Rui Hachimura’s Role With Lakers appeared first on The Cold Wire.