Japan Men's National Basketball Team

Bio

Japan's national basketball team has consistently represented the Land of the Rising Sun in international competitions. The basketball team of Japan is operated by the Japan Basketball Association.

Japan's national team was founded in the early 1900s when the team started competing on the national level. Today, Japan might not be the top team when one discusses basketball, but the team is steadily growing every year. The team is known for their discipline and is diligently working to elevate the global standings. Japan's basketball team has already produced several players in the game who are known worldwide. With the power of unity, quick ball movement, and strategic gameplay, Japan is one of the emerging basketball teams in the globe. The team has continued to shine every year and has been giving tough competition to all other teams.

History

Basketball was introduced in Japan in 1917. The year when the national team of Japan played its first tournament at the 3rd Far Eastern games in Tokyo. But the team made its international debut at the Summer Olympics in Berlin in 1936. Despite initial challenges, the team worked tirelessly to improve its performance on the global stage.

The '70s marked a golden era for Japan's basketball team, winning the Asian Championship multiple times. However, they faced a slump in the '80s and '90s, with performance dwindling. The turn of the millennium marked a period of revitalization, with an increased emphasis on improving grassroots basketball.

Recent years have seen a remarkable surge in Japanese basketball, with a focus on fostering homegrown talent and integrating them into international leagues. Players like Yuta Tabuse and Rui Hachimura have significantly boosted the sport's popularity, setting a solid foundation for future generations.

Legends

Yuta Tabuse

Yuta Tabuse was the first player from Japan to get drafted in 2004 and appear in an NBA game. He was drafted by the Phoenix Suns and played several games for the team. Despite his short NBA career, he has had a great impact on Japan’s basketball team. He's widely recognized for popularizing the sport in Japan, inspiring countless young athletes.

Takehiko Orimo

Orimo's name is synonymous with Japanese basketball. Known for his sharpshooting skills, Orimo had a prolific career in the Japan Basketball League, and his performances on the national team were instrumental in putting Japanese basketball on the international map.

Yuta Watanabe

Born in Yokohama, Japan, Yuta Watanabe is an emerging star who is currently playing in the B.League. He is the current player for Chiba Jets Funabashi and is playing at the small forward position.

Playing in the NBA, Watanabe started his career with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2018 in the NBA Summer League when he was undrafted. After moving between several teams like the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, and Phoenix Suns, Watanabe was again traded back to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2024, but he declined the offer and decided to go back to his country and play in the B. League.

Rui Hachimura

The first Japanese player selected in the first round of an NBA draft, Rui Hachimura has quickly become an emblem of the country's basketball prowess. Hachimura, who began his career with the Washington Wizards, has consistently proven his talent on the global stage, enhancing the reputation of Japanese basketball. As of July 2024, Rui Hachimura plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA, as a Power Forward and Small Forward.

Roster (2024 Olympics)

Records - Last 10 Years

Olympic Games

FIBA World Cup

FIBA Asia Cup