Rui Hachimura is a Japanese-Beninese professional basketball player and a trailblazer for Asian representation in the NBA. He became the first Japanese player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft when the Washington Wizards chose him ninth overall in 2019.
Currently playing as a forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, he has established himself as one of the NBA’s most intriguing international players while maintaining one of the league’s most private personal lives.
His girlfriend, Briana Delgado, and their relationship became one of the most-searched topics in Lakers basketball after he publicly denied dating global pop star Doja Cat, redirecting every fan’s attention to the woman he actually has beside him.
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Rui Hachimura Biography
He was born on February 8 1998 in Toyama Japan, making him 28 years old as of 2026. His father, Zakari Jabil, is from Benin in West Africa, and his mother, Makiko, is Japanese, giving Rui a unique multicultural heritage that made him a visibly different figure growing up in Japan’s relatively homogeneous society.
His mixed race background brought challenges in a country where mixed race individuals can face social difficulties, but Rui has spoken openly about using those experiences as motivation rather than obstacles.
Rui Hachimura’s name carries deep family significance, given to him by his grandfather who loved baseball, a touching detail that reflects the family-centred values he has carried throughout his career.
He grew up in Toyama alongside his younger siblings including his brother Allen who also plays basketball at a competitive level in Japan.
Rui registered his name under his mother’s family name Hachimura rather than his father’s name, a decision that connected him more closely to his Japanese identity and heritage.
Rui attended Meisei High School where he developed his basketball skills under dedicated coaching.
Despite starting basketball at the relatively late age of 13 in middle school, his potential was immediately recognised by his coach Joji Sakamoto who dedicated himself to developing Rui’s raw talent.
He is also the first Japanese player signed by Jordan Brand, a commercial milestone that reflects both his basketball excellence and his extraordinary global marketability.
Rui Hachimura Girlfriend
Rui Hachimura has been in a relationship with Briana Delgado since 2021, shortly after he joined the Washington Wizards. Their relationship became more publicly visible after he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and the couple began living together in Los Angeles.
Briana Delgado is a fitness influencer and model based in Los Angeles who has built a successful social media career through her fitness content and personal lifestyle posts on Instagram at her handle brianadelgadoo and TikTok at brianaceleste.
Her net worth is estimated at approximately $1 million to $5 million accumulated through modelling contracts, brand partnerships and her social media presence.
What makes their relationship particularly admirable in the celebrity-saturated world of NBA basketball is their shared commitment to privacy. Unlike many NBA couples who frequently appear in public and attract constant media attention, Hachimura and Delgado prefer to keep their bond private, sharing only occasional glimpses of their life together on social media.
Their privacy was tested when speculation circulated that Rui was dating global pop star Doja Cat. Hachimura publicly and firmly denied the rumours, making clear that he was not in a relationship with Doja Cat.
The denial only amplified public interest in his actual relationship with Briana, making her one of the most searched names connected to the Lakers in the 2025-26 season. As of 2026 Rui and Briana remain together and continue to build their private life in Los Angeles.
Career
Rui Hachimura’s journey to the NBA is one of basketball’s most extraordinary international stories. He began playing basketball at 13 years old in middle school after his coach Joji Sakamoto recognised his remarkable athletic potential.
He developed rapidly at Meisei High School before making the bold decision to cross the Pacific Ocean and play college basketball at Gonzaga University in 2016.
At Gonzaga he thrived under coach Mark Few alongside future NBA players Brandon Clarke and Filip Petrusev. He averaged 19.7 points and 6.5 rebounds in his junior season, helping lead Gonzaga to the NCAA championship game. His junior year performance confirmed him as a top NBA Draft prospect and he declared for the 2019 NBA Draft.
The Washington Wizards selected Hachimura ninth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, making him the first Japanese player drafted in the lottery. He averaged 13.5 points per game in his rookie season and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
His time in Washington was marked by flashes of brilliance interrupted by injuries and a personal leave of absence in the 2021-22 season during which he focused on his mental health and personal wellbeing.
In January 2023, the Washington Wizards traded Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers in a move that placed him alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
At the Lakers he developed into a reliable scoring forward, improving his three-point shooting dramatically to become one of the team’s most valuable rotation players.
In the 2025-26 NBA season he is averaging approximately 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. His combination of athleticism, improving shooting and defensive versatility make him one of the Lakers’ most trusted contributors heading into the second half of the decade.
Rui Hachimura Net Worth
His net worth is estimated at approximately $10 million to $15 million as of 2026, accumulated through his NBA contracts with the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Lakers combined with his endorsement deals and commercial partnerships.
He became the first Japanese player signed by Jordan Brand, a landmark deal that reflects both his basketball quality and his extraordinary commercial value as a bridge between American basketball and Japan’s enormous and passionate sports market.
His NBA salary has grown steadily from his rookie contract to his current deal with the Lakers, providing him with financial security that he has supplemented through disciplined investment and business activities.
He maintains a deliberately modest public lifestyle despite his considerable earnings, consistent with the private and grounded approach he brings to every aspect of his personal life.
As one of the NBA’s most globally recognisable international players Hachimura’s commercial appeal continues to grow alongside his basketball development, ensuring his net worth will increase significantly in the years ahead.
