Japan's basketball growth is turning its national team into a formidable force on the Olympic stage. Its near-upset against France clearly indicates that Asian basketball representatives are on the right track, showcasing its progress and potential.
Despite missing out on the biggest victory in their Olympic and World Cup history, Japan's performance against France sent a clear message to the world: Japan's basketball growth must be respected.
| Player of the Game | |
|
EFF
30
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| Victor Wembanyama | |
| Points | 18 |
| Accuracy | 6-13 |
| Rebounds | 11 |
| Assists | 6 |
The entire world was watching. NBA future Victor Wembanyama made his second Olympic appearance with the French national team, supported by 27,000 fans in the electric Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
In a surprising turn of events, Japan pushed France to the first Olympic overtime, nearly reaching a victory before an unfortunate play at the end of regulation.
With 10 seconds left, Japan had a four-point lead before a decisive possession by 'Les Bleus.'
Then, the miracle happened. Matthew Strazel made a three-pointer and drew a foul, converting a 3+1 play that sent the game to overtime, essentially stealing the win Japan out of their pocket, 94-90.
"We played really well. We fought hard for 40 minutes. I'm really proud of what we did. We never gave up. Even when they made some runs, we kept our heads up and kept running," the most popular basketball player in Japan, Yuta Watanabe, told BasketNews.
What struck me most while talking to the Japanese players was their cultural differences and respect for the game.
While many European teams might have turned the post-game media session into a spectacle to complain about Strazel's call, the Japanese players remained respectful to the officials.
They politely suggested they didn't think it was a foul but took the loss responsibly.
"I think there was no foul," Yuki Kawamura, who fouled Strazel on the decisive play, told BasketNews. "But Strazel is a good shooter. That was a tough shot, and he made it," he added.
When a reporter suggested he should be proud of himself after a remarkable 29-point night that included 6 rebounds and 6 assists, Kawamura responded, "We lost the game... I have to get better."
"I think it shows that we can compete with any team. We faced a true road game experience with 27,000 fans all against us. Despite that, we fought hard until the end against one of the top teams in the world. It's definitely a step in the right direction for us," Josh Hawkinson, who made Victor Wembanyama's life really hard that night with his pick-and-pop plays, told BasketNews.
After spending his entire professional career in Japan since 2017, the 29-year-old Seattle-born American big man became a Japanese citizen in 2023.
Japan definitely gained new fans with its streaky, undersized guards, starting with the 23-year-old B League MVP, Yuki Kawamura.
The 1.73-m point guard has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason.
The world watched the highly anticipated matchup between the tallest and shortest players in the Olympics: Victor Wembanyama and Yuki Togashi, officially listed by FIBA as 2.22m (7'3") and 1.67m (5'5"), respectively.
Yuta Watanabe has become the highest-paid player in the top Japanese basketball division by signing with the Chiba Jets. According to BasketNews sources, his annual salary is expected to exceed $5 million net.
Meanwhile, Rui Hachimura, Japan's most accomplished NBA player, averaged 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds for the Los Angeles Lakers, alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Hachimura received a second unsportsmanlike foul for grabbing Rudy Gobert's hand and was ejected just before crunch time despite a 24-point performance.
"Last year, we played without Rui and made it here without him. Obviously, having him join our team is huge. He's always making the right plays and scoring for us. So, losing him to ejection really hurt. But, like I said, we never gave up. We stuck together and played hard for 40 minutes. I'm really proud of what we accomplished," Watanabe said, reflecting on Hachimura's ejection in the fourth quarter.
Hugh Watanabe, stepping up in Rui Hachimura's absence, delivered one of the standout plays of the tournament. He rewarded Rudy Gobert with a spectacular block, stopping the elite defensive player right at the rim.
"That's our next-man-up mentality. I believe in every one of those guys. I wish I could play them all, but sometimes the game doesn't allow that. Hugh [Watanabe] played great," Hovasse praised his backup big man.
Japan offers more than just their standout players.
Their head coach, Tom Hovasse, has a proven track record of building a winning basketball culture.
Before leading the men's national team, Hovasse made history with the Japan women's team, securing a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He was also the first foreigner to take the reins of a women's national team in Japan.
Since taking over the men's squad in 2021, Hovasse has guided them to their first World Cup victory against a European team in the 2023 tournament.
Japan upset Lauri Markkanen's Finland by leaving them behind on the group stage, even though Finnish basketball was also on the rise.
In five games in Okinawa, they've lost only to Germany and Australia, two FIBA basketball powerhouses. After beating Venezuela and Cape Verde, they qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics as the best Asian team.
Prior to his role with the men's team, Hovasse's coaching experience was exclusively with women's basketball.
Fun fact: Tom Hovasse, born in Durango, Colorado, speaks fluent Japanese.
"We've been on a mission to show that Japan plays good basketball," Japan's national team head coach Tom Hovasse spoke to BasketNews. "We had a good run in the World Cup, and the Japanese fans are really behind us."
"In that aspect, I'm glad we could showcase our talents on the world stage so a lot more fans could see it. Japan basketball is definitely on the rise, and I hope it becomes one of the top 2 in Japan. That would have seemed impossible ten years ago, but we have a chance now," he added.
Behind these standout players, Japan's B League is making significant strides on the global stage.
The league has officially announced its ambition to become the second-best basketball league in the world.
The growth has been remarkable, with plans to construct numerous NBA-scale arenas in the coming seasons. Additionally, top basketball clubs are preparing to establish player salary budgets exceeding $10 million.
Currently, teams can have three foreign players on their rosters, though only two can be on the court at any given time.
The league is even contemplating the introduction of a draft system in 2026, drawing inspiration from the U.S. college basketball model and its focus on nurturing young talent.
Japanese basketball is renowned for its serious mentality, akin to how Germany is recognized in Europe for its culture of perfectionism and well-organized development.
Japan is eager to elevate its local basketball scene by drawing inspiration from the best European and global examples. It is committed to integrating these insights with its own cultural strengths, such as respect, consistency, meticulous planning, and long-term vision.
"Yeah, last year was a little bit of a turning point for us. We won three games at the FIBA World Cup, and people started watching more basketball games," Watanabe said. "So obviously, if we can win more games in the Olympics, more people are going to watch basketball games. It is very important for us, so we will try to win the next game."
Even the best players on the planet are starting to feel the impact of this change.
Victor Wembanyama lit up the scoreboard early, scoring 8 points in the first 4 minutes of the game. However, he managed only 2 points over the next 36 minutes before spearheading a crucial overtime surge, contributing 8 consecutive points in the extra period for France.
"We were very physical," said Hovasse, praising his frontline for their efforts. "In the Brazil game, we saw how they were pushing, and the referees are letting a lot go in these Olympics. We worked on getting Wembanyama out of the paint and disrupting his comfort zone. The guys did a great job with that."
Hawkinson, who scored 16 points and hit 4 of 6 three-pointers, added, "With those two big guys down low, it's tough to roll because they're always looking to block shots. So, picking and popping was crucial for us. I was glad to hit some threes and spread the defense, which helped our guards penetrate."
"Just how hard we play, no matter what," Watanabe was proud of Japan's effort.
"I was so tired out there today. I don't know how many minutes I played. I just came back from a calf injury. I hadn't practiced much in the last two months. But, you know, being out there, there's no excuse. If I decide to be out there, whether I'm tired or not, I just have to be out there, have fun, and give it my all for 40 minutes."
Japan still has a chance to advance from the Olympic group stage if it beats Brazil by a significant margin and qualifies as one of the two best third-placed teams.
Japan's last victory in the Olympic basketball tournament was 42 years ago. However, an upcoming win in the Olympics doesn't seem as far-fetched as before.
"We seem to be getting better with each step. Our goal is to secure our first win in the Olympics. We aim to be among the top eight teams, and that means a win against Brazil. That's our goal, and that's where we're looking right now," Hovasse concluded.
