Basketball

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Cheered by Los Angeles Lakers Fans at NBA Game

AP
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, right, attends an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns, on Monday, in Los Angeles.

By Toshiaki Obitsu /Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent

21:43 JST, December 2, 2025

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers hurler Yoshinobu Yamamoto attended Monday’s NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns, and he posed for a photo with the Lakers’ Rui Hachimura before the game.

When Yamamoto was shown on the jumbotron during the game, a huge cheer erupted from the Lakers fans. Having earned ３wins and been named MVP of this year’s World Series, Yamamoto contributed to the Dodgers’ back-to-back series titles. He has become a star player known to many in Los Angeles.

The Lakers lost 108–125 to the Suns, and Hachimura did not score. After the game, Hachimura commented on meeting Yamamoto.

“I told him congratulations on the Dodgers’ victory,” Hachimura said. “He said he was rooting for me, which made me incredibly happy.”