TOKYO (AP) — Japanese basketball officials, fans and media hailed the selection of Rui Hachimura in the 2019 NBA Draft, saying the move will usher in a new era for the sport in Japan.
On Thursday, Hachimura made history as the first Japanese player to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft. He was picked as the No. 9 overall by the Washington Wizards, who are currently in the process of rebuilding.
“The NBA’s Hachimura’s Birth: A Major Leap for Japan,” was the headline in the online edition of the Nikkansports newspaper.
The forward, standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 235 pounds (2.03 meters, 106 kilograms), led his team in scoring with an average of 19.7 points and 6.5 rebounds last season. He was a junior at Gonzaga, a U.S. college, and was named the West Coast Conference player of the year.
Yasutaka Okayama was the only other player from Japan to be drafted into the NBA, being selected 171st overall in 1981. However, he never participated in a regular-season game. Only two Japanese players have ever done so: Yuta Tabuse, who played for the Phoenix Suns in the 2004-05 season, and Yuta Watanabe, who played for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2018-19 season.
Yuko Mitsuya from the Japan Basketball Federation expressed her pride in Hachimura, a product of the Japanese basketball system, for being selected in the NBA draft.
Despite its increased popularity since the introduction of a professional league in 2005, basketball in Japan still falls significantly behind baseball and soccer.
The growth of the sport is certain to skyrocket with Hachimura’s NBA career.
Hachimura, the son of a Japanese mother and a father from the Republic of Benin, is the latest mixed-race Japanese to gain recognition in the sports industry, following in the footsteps of Naomi Osaka and Yu Darvish.
“Japan is making a significant advancement,” stated Keisuke Tsutsumi, an office worker and NBA follower. “This will elevate the sport to a whole new level in our country.”
Joji Sakamoto, Hachimura’s junior high school coach, welcomed the news of his draft selection.
Sakamoto, who coached Hachimura in his hometown of Toyama Prefecture, claimed he saw potential in him from a young age.
“Sakamoto, who is 59 years old, said, “I instructed him to imagine his dream, and now it is going to become a reality.”
Masahiko Shibayama, Japan’s education minister, stated that Hachimura has inspired a generation of young players in his native country.
“By assuming a significant role in a league that’s challenging for Japanese players to penetrate, he will instill hope in numerous Japanese individuals,” Shibayama said, “It’s truly amazing.”
Hachimura’s ascension is perfectly timed as Tokyo gears up to host the 2020 Olympics. The national men’s team of Japan, which has qualified as the host country, could see Hachimura playing a pivotal role not only in the Olympics but also in the World Cup in China later this year.
Tommy Sheppard, the interim general manager for the Wizards, referenced the 21-year-old’s performance for the national team of Japan.
“He’s the essential player for Japan to qualify for the world championships. He will also be the highlight of their basketball team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” said Sheppard. “His ability to carry such responsibility at his age – his maturity – I believe will serve him well in the NBA.”
