Former Gonzaga Bulldogs standout Rui Hachimura entered the NBA with significant attention, a common trend for Consensus All-Americans and top-10 draft selections. His role in the league, however, has been quite different, as he struggled with the Washington Wizards before becoming a more efficient offensive starter for the Los Angeles Lakers (27-19). On Thursday, Hachimura returned to his former team.

The 26-year-old forward had an impressive performance against the struggling Wizards (6-41), scoring 22 points while shooting an excellent 9-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. He also contributed four rebounds, one block, and one steal in the Lakers’ dominant 134-96 victory at Capital One Arena.

Hachimura’s strong performance is just what the Lakers need to maintain their momentum. The team has often faced issues with consistency, but after winning five of their last six games, they may be finding their rhythm. When players like Hachimura step up, the Lakers look like a serious contender. His former coach in Washington, now an assistant with Los Angeles, offered a different take after the impressive outing.

“Should’ve played like that when I had him here!” joked Scott Brooks, the 2010 NBA Coach of the Year, during the postgame press conference, as reported by Dan Woike of the LA Times. Too

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