Getty Image / Rob Kim
After almost a year of waiting for the Los Angeles Lakers to make a move to bolster their roster, the move finally came this week.
The deal they finally made saw them trade Kendrick Nunn and 3 second round picks for Rui Hachimura.
It wasn’t the kind of blockbuster deal that some fans may have been hoping for, but the trade did begin to fill one need for the Lakers.
The Lakers have needed shooters that can spread the floor for them and Hachimura is a career 35.5% shooter from 3.
Yesterday, the trade was discussed on “NBA on TNT” and Shaquille O’Neal made a wild revelation about Rui Hachimura.
Shaq apparently didn’t know who he is and doesn’t watch the Wizards.
Shaq on not knowing who Rui Hachimura was prior to the Lakers trade:
"If you ain't a top 10 player, I don't know who you are… I'm not watching the Bullets or the Wizards."
(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/Z3QUHvTLy6
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 26, 2023
That’s a pretty narrow segment of the NBA that Shaq claims to be paying attention. We also know that it isn’t entirely true because he has had plenty to say about Rudy Gobert in recent years and Gobert has never been close to a top 10 player in the league.
Hachimura is also a surprising player to not know anything about. He was a star in his junior year at Gonzaga and was a top 10 pick in the NBA Draft.
He may not have turned into a star in the league, but he has been a solid starter for the Wizards.
Before being traded, Hachimura was averaging 13 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for the Wizards.
Shaq’s lack of knowledge on Hachimura could be a product of the Wizards not getting very many opportunities to play on TNT, but he still feels pretty surprising that Shaq wouldn’t know who he is.