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Rui Hachimura
The first Japanese-born first-round NBA draft pick, Hachimura opened the league's most valuable Asian market and made himself Japan's basketball ambassador in an NBA hungry for Pacific reach.
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· Ryan General
Japanese NBA stars Kawamura and Hachimura share moment in Lakers-Grizzlies clash
Memphis Grizzlies guard Yuki Kawamura and Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, the only two active Japanese players in the NBA, shared a heartfelt embrace and posed for the cameras when their teams faced each other at the Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday. Hachimura, who had a…
· Ryan General
Watch: Yuki Kawamura scores his first NBA points against Bronny James
Memphis Grizzlies rookie Yuki Kawamura, the NBA’s shortest player at 5-foot-8, scored his first NBA points against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday after drawing a foul on Bronny James and sinking both free throws. The moment amassed over 1.5 million views on NBA Japan’s X…
· Ryan General
Hawaii basketball standouts join Team Japan for Paris 2024
Akira Jacobs, a 20-year-old prospect from the University of Hawaii and Hugh Watanabe, a 25-year-old standout from ‘Iolani School have secured spots on Japan’s basketball squad for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. The two Hawaii players will be joining the Japan national team’s…
· Bryan Ke
Meet the ‘Japanese Steph Curry’ hyping up crowds in Nebraska
A Japanese college basketball player’s phenomenal performance on the court has some observers referring to him as the “Japanese Steph Curry.” Keisei Tominaga, a 22-year-old junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has had a good start to the 2022-2023 season of the Big Ten…
· Bryan Ke
Rui Hachimura becomes LA Lakers’ first-ever Japanese player after trade
Japanese-born NBA player Rui Hachimura will make his Los Angeles Lakers debut this week after being traded from the Washington Wizards. The news of the trade was confirmed on Monday by the Los Angeles Lakers‘ official Twitter account, welcoming Hachimura, 24, with a tweet that…
· Bryan Ke
Rui Hachimura’s ‘Black Samurai’ sneaker and apparel collab collection with Jordan Brand is on fire
Japanese NBA star and Washington Wizards power forward Rui Hachimura and Jordan Brand have released a collection of sweaters, shirts and footwear inspired by Hachimura’s Japanese roots. The now sold-out Rui Hachimura x Jordan Brand collection, called “Black Samurai,” is…
· Ryan General
Japanese NBA Star Rui Hachimura Reveals He Gets Racist Remarks ‘Almost Every Day’
Rui Hachimura, the first Japanese player to be a first-round pick in an NBA Draft, revealed on Tuesday that he receives racist messages online “almost every day.” Online hate: The 23-year-old Washington Wizards forward made the revelation via a comment on Twitter after his…
· Ryan General
Yuta Watanabe Becomes the First Japanese Player Signed to Toronto Raptors
Yuta Watanabe, 26, has made history as the first Japanese-born player to ever be signed by the Toronto Raptors. Welcome to the family, @wacchi1013 🇯🇵. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/xPYkaIHMkH
· Bryan Ke
Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe Become the First Japanese NBA Players to Play Against Each Other
Yuta Watanabe of the Memphis Grizzlies and Rui Hachimura of the Washington Wizards made history as the first pair of Japanese players to share an NBA court. The 25-year-old Grizzlies small forward/shooting guard and the 21-year-old Wizards power forward, who are both members of…
· Ryan General
Rui Hachimura Becomes the First Japanese Player Selected in Round 1 of the NBA Draft
Rui Hachimura became the second Japanese-born player to be drafted into the NBA following his selection by the Washington Wizards. Hachimura, who is half-Black, half-Japanese, was the No. 9 pick during the 2019 NBA draft on Thursday.
· Ziye Wang
Meet the Biracial Basketball Star Who’s About to Become Japan’s First Drafted NBA Player
Born and raised in Japan to a Beninese father and a Japanese mother, Rui Hachimura knows what it feels like to have the spotlight on him. In a country as ethnically homogenous as Japan, a “hafu” (or biracial person) like Hachimura stood out like a sore thumb growing up. Throw in…
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