On Friday, May 1st, Los Angeles Lakers standout Rui Hachimura was included in Japan’s preliminary 53-member roster, preparing for a busy schedule of international basketball this summer.
The precise implications of this selection for Rui Hachimura, considered Japan’s premier player, are currently uncertain, especially since he has not participated in the national team program since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Currently, the 28-year-old is deeply involved in the NBA play-offs, where he is a starter playing vital minutes for the Lakers, who hold a 3-2 lead in their initial series against the Houston Rockets. If the Los Angeles team advances significantly in the post-season, questions arise regarding Hachimura’s availability for Japan’s squad, or if he will be available at all.
Following the Olympics, Hachimura openly voiced criticism of former head coach Tom Hovasse and the Japan Basketball Association, asserting that they did not meet world-class standards. Hovasse’s contract was not extended earlier this year.
Japan faces a demanding itinerary over the forthcoming Northern Hemisphere summer, commencing with qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup on July 3rd and 6th, when they will compete against the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea, respectively. Additionally, two more qualifiers are scheduled for August 27th and 31st.
The nation will also host friendly matches (with opponents yet to be announced) on August 9-10 and August 15-16. Subsequently, they are slated to participate in the William Jones Cup held in Chinese Taipei, leading up to the Asian Games, which run from September 10-20 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Among other notable inclusions on the preliminary roster alongside Hachimura are star guard Yuki Kawamura, who was on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls this NBA season, and former NBA player and wing, Yuta Watanabe.