Rui Hachimura will play for Japan in upcoming Summer Olympics

robertmarvi

Staff Writer

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 05: Rui Hachimura of Japan warms up prior to the game one of basketball Men's International game between Japan and South Korea at Ariake Arena on July 05, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)

The 2024 Summer Olympics are set to begin in Paris in less than three weeks, with the opening ceremony scheduled to take place on Friday, July 26. Team USA will be making a big stand there in an attempt to win back the gold medal after failing to win even a bronze medal in last year's FIBA World Cup.

The United States didn't exactly have its best players on hand for the FIBA World Cup last summer. Almost right away, a number of NBA stars and superstars, including LeBron James and Anthony Davis, signaled their commitment to head to France and help the country regain its supremacy in basketball.

James and Davis won't be the only Lakers heading overseas for the Olympics. Forward Rui Hachimura will be suiting up there for his native Japan.

Japan isn't exactly a basketball powerhouse, but perhaps Hachimura's play in the Olympics will remind Lakers fans how potent a player he is.

He did improve his offensive production this past season by averaging 13.6 points in 26.9 minutes a game while shooting 53.7% from the field and 42.2% from 3-point range.

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