Rumors

ClutchPoints: Rui Hachimura training alongside sumo wrestlers in Japan this offseason 😤 (via rui_8mura/IG)

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Nagasaki Velca is pleased to announce that it has agreed to a new contract with Stanley Johnson for the Resona Group B.LEAGUE 2025-26 season. Johnson's comment: "I am truly honored to be a part of the incredible Nagasaki Velca team. I am thrilled for this unique opportunity and look forward to embracing Japanese culture, contributing to the team's success, and connecting with our passionate fans. "

velca.jp

Donatas Urbonas: Nassir Little — the No. 25 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft — has signed with the Chiba Jets of Japan’s B.League for the 2025-26 season, per sources. Little played five NBA seasons with the Trail Blazers and Suns. More 👇 basketnews.com/news-227943-na…

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Former Timberwolves player Jarrett Culver signed with Japanese team Sendai 89ers for the 2025-26 season.

HoopsHype

Rumors have been swirling about Rui Hachimura's time with Japan's national team during the Olympics in Lille, sources tell BasketNews, hinting at some turbulence within the camp. There were whispers that Hachimura might have unexpectedly left a practice session, which could have contributed to his surprising exit from the team.

BasketNews

Surviving the Japanese comeback in the second half, Brazil got the job done to keep hoping about making it to the next phase at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. Brazil is currently -7 in points differential after getting today’s 102-84 win and will wait for the rest of the games in Gameday 3 to find out more about the future. France and Germany already qualified for the next round, but the South Americans can hope to be two of the best third-classified teams. Already dominating at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Bruno Caboclo was crucial for his team’s win, as the Brazilian center finished the game with a double-double of 33 points plus 17 rebounds. “When I am not in foul trouble, I know I can play like that and at least be a true factor on the defensive end”, said Caboclo after the game.

EuroHoops.net

Victor Wembanyama, with 18 points and 11 rebounds, led France to a 94-90 overtime victory over Japan despite Rui Hachimura's 24-point performance and subsequent ejection.

BasketNews

The 2023 FIBA World Cup winners handled business efficiently, defeating Japan 97-77 in their first game in Lille. Franz Wagner led the way with 22 points and six rebounds, achieving a PIR of 21. While he stood out in scoring, it was Daniel Theis who took MVP honors with a perfect shooting performance, going 7/7 from the field for 18 points and grabbing seven rebounds, resulting in a team-high PIR of 25. Dennis Schroder also made his mark, recording a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Moritz Wagner added 15 points and Isaac Bonga chipped in with 11 points.

EuroHoops.net

Leading from start to finish, the Boomers went up by a margin of 27 points before settling for the 109-89 victory over Japan in Okinawa Arena Tuesday. Coming off the bench in style, Xavier Cooks posted a 24-point, 16-rebound double-double in Gameday 3 of Group E. Oklahoma City Thunder’s Josh Giddey also recorded a double-double with 26 points and 11 assists to go with five rebounds.

EuroHoops.net

Finland had a gargantuan lead in the second half but it didn't matter for Japan. They won the fourth quarter by 18 points and eliminated Lauri Markkanen's team from FIBA World Cup title contention 98-88 (22-15, 14-31, 27-27, 35-15).

BasketNews

Yoko Miyaji: Rui Hachimura decided not to play for Japan National Team this summer at FIBA World Cup, JBA has just announced. In a press release, Hachimura says it was a tough decision, but he wants to focus on preparation for the upcoming season and NBA career.

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Akatsuki Japan stars Rui Hachimura, Yuta Watanabe and newly crowned B. League MVP Yuki Kawamura headline the 25-man list of candidates for Japan's squad at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

FIBA

After getting traded from the Washington Wizards, Rui Hachimura made his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers last night. The interest to watch the Japanese forward's first game with the new team was so high that the country's only official streaming service went down. Hachimura's first game as a Laker was scheduled to start at 12:30 Japan time. With only around 10 minutes left before the match, the country's only official streaming service, NBA Rakuten, went down.

BasketNews

Zion estimates that around 80% of players in the league are into anime; they just won’t admit it. Those familiar with the conventions of the form know that it would be hard to craft a genre better suited to professional athletes: Shōnen anime (the term for shows targeted at boys) often revolve around a protagonist striving to achieve greatness in their chosen field, be it high seas piracy (One Piece) or fighting alien warlords using energy blasts so powerful they turn your hair gold (Dragon Ball Z). They’re long-form stories about what it takes to be The Best—not incidentally, the same goal that drives athletes.

GQ.com