Rui Hachimura makes early Olympic exit and has left Japan’s men’s basketball team with calf injury

By: Kyle Hightower, The Associated Press Posted: 4:14 AM CDT Friday, Aug. 2, 2024

VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France (AP) — The Paris Olympics are over early for Japan’s Rui Hachimura.

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VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France (AP) — The Paris Olympics are over early for Japan’s Rui Hachimura.

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VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France (AP) — The Paris Olympics are over early for Japan’s Rui Hachimura.

Japan’s basketball federation said in a statement Friday morning that Hachimura will sit out its game against Brazil due to a left calf injury.

The team said that Hachimura felt discomfort in his calf fallowing Japan’s 94-90 overtime loss to France on Tuesday. He received an MRI confirming an injury to his gastrocnemius muscle. He has since left the team.

France's Nicolas Batum, left, reaches in on Japan's Rui Hachimura in a men's basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

“As my injury required early treatment, I was unfortunately unable to accompany the team in accordance with NBA/FIBA rules,” Hachimura, who plays for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, said in a statement. “I would like to thank all the spectators who supported me at the venue, basketball fans around the world, and all the fans in Japan. I think that together with my teammates, we played a very good game for Japanese basketball. I am proud to have been able to play as a member of Akatsuki Japan.”

Hachimura played 29 minutes in the loss to France, scoring a game-high 24 points

Japan is 0-2 in group play. The winner of its matchup with Brazil (0-2) will finish third in Group B. The loser will be eliminated from the tournament.