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Japan announced it's 12-player national team list for the coming FIBA Basketball World Cup in China. Rui Hachimura of the NBA's Washington Wizards is definitely the biggest name on the list.
The list goes as follows:
Seiya Ando (guard), Rui Hachimura (forward), Joji Takeuchi (forward), Shuto Ando (guard), Makoto Hiejima (guard), Kosuke Takeuchi (forward), Yudai Baba (guard), Avi Koki Schafer (center), Daiki Tanaka (guard), Nick Fazekas (center), Ryusei Shinoyama (guard), Yuta Watanabe (forward)
Rui Hachimura of Japan dunks in the warm-up game against Argentina, August 22, 2019. /VCG Photo
Since he was selected by the Wizards with the No. 9 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Hachimura has become Japan's biggest basketball hope. So far, he has lived up to people's expectations with his performances in the warm-up games. He scored 35 and 31 points to help Japan defeat New Zealand 99-89 and Germany 86-83.
"Both of them (Hachimura and Watanabe) are still young as players yet are working so hard. We have been able to create a good mood with the entire team. Our team's become even stronger than before," said veteran Ryusei Shinoyama to the Japan Times.
Yuta Watanabe #12 of Japan dunks in the warm-up game against Germany, August 24, 2019. /VCG Photo
Nick Fazekas #22 of Japan handles the ball to drive in the warm-up game against Germany, August 24, 2019. /VCG Photo
Of course Japan cannot rely on the 21-year-old alone and fortunately, they also have Watanabe, who not only has NBA experience, but is also a good complement to Hachimura with his sharp shooting and defensive vitality.
Naturalized American center Fazekas is another key member of Japan. As the team's only giant (2.11 meters tall), Fazekas dropped 27.2 points and 12. 5 rebounds per game during the World Cup Asian qualifiers. Though it will be difficult to duplicate such numbers at the World Cup, his contributions will be just as important to Japan.
Unlike other teams, Japan will have less pressure in China because they won't compete for a spot at the 2020 Summer Olympics – the team automatically qualifies because Tokyo is the host city. That's why head coach Julio Lamas brought three new faces, Seiya and Shuto Ando, Avo Koki Schafer, hoping that these young men can have a better understanding of international basketball before hosting the world's strongest teams at home next year.
Japan is in Group E with USA, Turkey and Czech Republic. They will meet their first opponent at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center on September 1.