Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard believes rookie Rui Hachimura built for NBA success
Pro sports executives often talk about strategies for success, offering their opinions on what it takes to build winning teams. Tommy Sheppard, the Washington Wizards' new general manager, certainly knows that excellent players are needed to lead his team to victories. But his vision for ...
Japan's shortcomings laid bare at FIBA World Cup
High hopes turned into devastation — and misery. With an 80-65 loss to Montenegro on Monday, the Japan men's basketball team concluded its campaign at the 2019 FIBA World Cup with a disastrous 0-5 record, the worst-ever outcome for the team in the sport's extravaganza. Considering ...
Japan maintains positive vibe before FIBA World Cup opener against Turkey
The challenge that awaits the Japan men's national team is certainly big. But the players are filled with positive energy and are ready for it. One day before Japan competes in its first 2019 FIBA World Cup game, the squad wrapped up its final practice ...
In Shanghai, Japan begins final preparations for FIBA World Cup
Two days before their first game at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Japan men's national team members still looked relaxed, but at the same time they were certainly aware that the clock is ticking. On Friday, the Akatsuki Five took the floor at Shanghai Oriental ...
Japan's history in global basketball tournament
The Japan men's national team will make its first appearance at the FIBA World Cup, which was formerly called the FIBA World Championship, since the 2006 edition in Japan. The Akatsuki Five have punched a ticket to it on their own for the first ...
Pistons coach Dwane Casey says guard play will be key for Japan at FIBA World Cup
Historically, the Japan men's national basketball team has had limited opportunities to compete on the global stage. For example, the team qualified for the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics and the 1998 FIBA World Championship, which was held in Athens. But the upcoming FIBA World Cup ...
Expectations rise for Japan at 32-team FIBA World Cup
Making its fifth-ever appearance at the FIBA World Cup, Japan will dispatch arguably its best-ever squad on the global stage. While rough challenges are awaiting the team, which will face some of the world's elites in the 32-nation tourney in China, the Akatsuki Five are ...
Japan focused on success at FIBA World Cup
With the FIBA World Cup just around the corner, the Japan men's national team will head to China with confidence, but also with some issues that need to be fixed. The squad played a series of warm-up games against New Zealand, Argentina, Germany and Tunisia ...
Japan rallies in second half to beat Germany
The arena DJ encouraged the jam-packed, 18,355 fans at Saitama Super Arena saying, "Louder! Louder!" But it was perhaps unnecessary because they were already pretty loud, extremely loud. The Japan men's national team bounced back from its early struggles and managed to edge Germany 86-83 on ...
Argentina's experience pays off in victory over Japan
Japan competed resiliently against world No. 5 Argentina but fell 108-93 in a warm-up contest for the FIBA World Cup at Saitama Super Arena on Thursday night. Japan will play Germany and Tunisia in additional warm-up games at the same arena as part of a ...
Big guns set to lead Japan at FIBA World Cup
Japan's "Big Three" — Rui Hachimura, Yuta Watanabe and Nick Fazekas — headline the provisional roster of the Japan men's national team for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup, the Japan Basketball Association officially announced on Tuesday. The 16-man squad was introduced at Fuji Television ...
Togashi's status for World Cup in doubt due to broken hand
Just days after kicking off its preparation for the FIBA World Cup, the Japanese men's national team was jolted by some startlingly bad news out of the blue. Japan learned Tuesday that Yuki Togashi, the team's starting point guard, was diagnosed with a broken ...
