Redick shared positive news regarding forward Rui Hachimura and his recovery timeline from a calf injury.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been dealing with some injury concerns lately, and one of the key players on the shelf is forward Rui Hachimura.
Head coach JJ Redick spoke to reporters about the injury and gave a timeline for when fans can expect to see Hachimura back on the court.
Redick Reveals Target Return Date
"He'll be sort of out a week. That's kinda the target. He'll miss a couple games and then we'll get him ramped up and hopefully he's playing again in the next week," Redick said when asked about Hachimura's status.
The Lakers currently sit at 20-11 on the season and have been playing bad basketball, but losing Hachimura for any stretch of games is never ideal.
The forward has been ruled out for multiple games due to right calf soreness, and the team is being cautious with his recovery to make sure he comes back fully healthy.
Hachimura's Season So Far
Before the injury, Hachimura was having a solid year for Los Angeles and has been one of the more reliable players on the roster.
He is averaging 14.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game while shooting an impressive 53.6 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from three-point range.
Those shooting numbers are among the best of his career and show just how comfortable he has become in the Lakers system under Redick.
Earlier in the season, Hachimura was putting up even bigger numbers and looked like one of the most improved players in the league.
He posted multiple games with 20 or more points, and his ability to knock down threes at a high rate has made him a perfect fit alongside stars like Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves.
Why Hachimura Matters to the Lakers
Hachimura's importance to this Lakers team cannot be overstated.
He provides a combination of scoring, floor spacing, and defensive versatility that is hard to replace.
With his ability to shoot the ball from deep at such an efficient clip, defenses cannot leave him open on the perimeter, which opens up driving lanes for the playmakers around him.
His size at 6-foot-8 also allows him to guard multiple positions on the defensive end, which gives Redick flexibility with his lineups.
When Hachimura is healthy and on the floor, the Lakers are a much more dangerous team because they have another reliable scorer who does not need the ball in his hands to be effective.
While Hachimura is out, players like Dalton Knecht, Jake LaRavia, Nick Smith, and Jarred Vanderbilt will need to step up and fill the void.
The Lakers have thin depth to stay competitive during this short absence, but getting Hachimura back as soon as possible remains a priority for a team that has playoff aspirations in the Western Conference.