Patrick Beverley urges Rui Hachimura to elevate his gamePatrick Beverley and Rui Hachimura (Images Credit: Getty Images)
Last season, Rui Hachimura re-signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a three-year, $51 million contract. The Lakers had high expectations for the veteran forward, hoping his athleticism would justify the contract. However, Hachimura struggled to live up to those hopes, leading to some criticism.

Former NBA star Patrick Beverley didn’t hold back his thoughts on Hachimura’s performance during the latest episode of The Pat Bev Podcast. Beverley argued that Hachimura should be playing like the team’s “second option,” given his contract.

“Rui is a good basketball player. But he’s not the X-factor to me. He should be the X-factor because he gets paid as the X-factor, he needs to do more. He has to come in like, ‘I’m the second option,’” Beverley said.

“His mindset needs to be like, ‘It’s AD here, it’s LeBron here, it’s Austin Reaves here, it’s D. Lo here. But AD getting it, I’m the second option,” he added.

Beverley’s comments quickly sparked a debate among NBA fans on social media. Many fans backed his claim, agreeing that Hachimura needs to step up and play at a higher level to match the expectations tied to his contract.

On the other hand, some fans criticized Beverley’s take. They questioned the former NBA player’s decision to give advice to Hachimura due to Beverly’s lackluster NBA career.

Patrick Beverley Compares Rui Hachimura to Kyle Kuzma

Patrick Beverley continued his critique of Rui Hachimura on his podcast, this time comparing him to former Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma. Beverley, who recently shared advice for the Miami Heat, pointed out how important Kuzma was during the Lakers’ successful run in the 2020 NBA Bubble to urge Hachimura to play like Kuzma.

“What made them successful that Bubble Year, Kyle Kuzma? A wing with size that can put the ball on the floor, and people used to clown Kuzma because he used to take some tough shots, but you need some balls like that,” Beverly said.

“Because the same shot you take in the regular season that looks tough is the same shot you go take at the end of the game,” he added.

Hachimura is coming off a season where he averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. How he takes Beverley’s advice and improves his play will remain to be seen.

Chet Holmgren Has A Beautiful One-Word Response To 48-Year-Old NBA White Chocolate Showcasing Skills

Chet Holmgren Reacts To Jason Williams Showcasing SkillsChet Holmgren and Jason Williams (Images Credit: Getty Images and X/TheHoopCentral)
2006 NBA champion Jason Williams, popularly known as White Chocolate, recently created a social media buzz with his basketball skills at the age of 48. Oklahoma City Thunder standout Chet Holmgren is among the NBA community reacting to the former Miami Heat guard’s skills.

In his 12-year NBA career, Jason Williams played for several teams, including the Sacramento Kings, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Orlando Magic. He was known for his incredible passing skills and street ball-influenced playing style.

In a video that circulated on social media, the 48-year-old wowed onlookers with his behind-the-back dimes, bounce passes, and other creative skills. The video, shared by Hoop Central, garnered the attention of several fans, and Chet Holmgren gave a one-word response about Williams’ skills. Holmgren tweeted, “Art.”

Chet Holmgren Trains With Trae Young Ahead Of 2024-25 Season

While the Thunder standout reacted to Jason Williams’ recent video, fans love Holmgren’s offseason training videos. This week, the 22-year-old star was spotted training with Atlanta Hawks star guard Trae Young, Moses Moody, and Moses Brown. The second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft impressed the fans with his three-point shooting and hooping abilities.