Former Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Rui Hachimura, now with the Los Angeles Lakers, will reportedly be featured in the popular anime series “Crayon Shin-chan” in a new episode which will release on November 4.
Hachimura will play himself in a cameo during the episode “The Adventures of Buri Buri Zaemon: Space Dunk Edition” where he will attempt to stop a massive meteorite headed toward Earth with the biggest slam dunk of his career.
The episode already has promotional images which feature the Lakers forward in traditional anime art style.
Hachimura and his family are reportedly big fans of the show, and a quote from Lakers Daily indicates Rui considers this cameo a “dream come true.”
Hachimura has been a sports icon in Japan since his monstrous All-American season at Gonzaga in 2018-19, when he averaged 19.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting 60.6% on twos and 41.7% from beyond the arc, leading to his selection at No. 9 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Through three games in his first full season with the Lakers, Rui is averaging eight points and three rebounds in 14.7 minutes off the bench.
Andy hosts the Locked on Zags and Locked on College Basketball podcasts, and serves Locked On in a marketing/digital content creator role as well. He lives just outside Portland with his wife Jenna and dog, Tillie.