I remember the first time I saw Japan's men's basketball team take the court - there was something different about their energy even before the ball was tipped. That memory came rushing back when I recently came across guard Yuki Togashi's comment about how the team wants to be "presentable" on court while showing their "good vibes" through their jerseys. This philosophy perfectly captures what makes this rising squad so compelling to watch. Having followed international basketball for over a decade, I've rarely seen a national team transform its identity so dramatically while staying true to its cultural roots. The Japanese squad isn't just getting better - they're redefining what Asian basketball can look like on the global stage.
When we talk about players to watch, it's impossible not to start with Yuta Watanabe. At 28, he's become the first Japanese-born player to establish himself as a genuine NBA rotation player, and I've been absolutely captivated by his development. Last season with the Brooklyn Nets, he shot a remarkable 44.4% from three-point range while providing versatile defense that reminded me of a young Robert Horry. What makes Watanabe special isn't just his statistical production - it's his basketball IQ and the way he moves without the ball. I've watched countless players with more physical talent, but few who understand spacing and timing as intuitively as Watanabe does. His decision to sign with the Phoenix Suns this offseason was brilliant in my opinion - he'll get more open looks playing alongside Devin Booker and Kevin Durant than almost anywhere else in the league.
Then there's the emerging star that has me most excited - 22-year-old Josh Hawkinson. Now I'll admit, when he first committed to representing Japan (through his Japanese mother), I was skeptical about how quickly he'd adapt to international play. But watching him dominate during World Cup qualifiers completely changed my perspective. The man averaged a double-double - 21 points and 13 rebounds - during the Asian qualifiers, numbers that would be impressive in any context. His footwork in the post is surprisingly sophisticated for a player his age, and he's developed a reliable mid-range jumper that forces defenders to respect his versatility. What I love about Hawkinson is his old-school approach to rebounding - he boxes out every single time, something you don't often see from younger players focused on highlight plays.
The backcourt duo of Yuki Togashi and Yuta Watanabe's younger brother, Yudai Baba, brings a completely different energy to the team. Togashi, despite standing just 5'7", plays with a fearlessness that I find absolutely thrilling. His performance against China last year, where he scored 18 points including four three-pointers, demonstrated that height means nothing when you have heart and skill. Baba, meanwhile, has developed into the kind of 3-and-D wing that every modern team needs. Having watched him play for both the Texas Legends in the G-League and now back in Japan's B-League, I've been impressed by his defensive versatility. He can legitimately guard three positions, and his three-point shooting has improved from 28% to 36% over the past two seasons - that's the kind of development that shows serious dedication to craft.
What really sets this Japanese team apart in my view is their cohesion. Unlike many national teams that seem thrown together for tournaments, this group has been developing chemistry for years. Head coach Tom Hovasse has implemented a system that perfectly balances traditional Japanese discipline with modern basketball's pace and space principles. I've noticed they run more off-ball screens and backdoor cuts than almost any other international team - it's beautiful basketball to watch when it's working. Their ball movement during the 2023 World Cup was some of the crispest I've seen from an Asian team, averaging 24 assists per game which placed them in the top third of all teams despite finishing with a 1-4 record.
The future looks particularly bright when you consider the pipeline of young talent coming through. 19-year-old A.J. Lawson (no relation to the NBA player) has shown flashes of being a special scorer at the youth level, while 21-year-old center Soichiro Inoue has grown two inches in the past two years and is developing a promising inside-out game. Having scouted numerous international prospects over the years, I'm confident that at least three of Japan's current U-22 players will be making significant contributions by the 2027 World Cup.
Looking at their recent performances, Japan's 107-89 victory over Finland in the 2023 World Cup wasn't just an upset - it was a statement. Watanabe scored 29 points, Hawkinson added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and the team shot 50% from three-point range. Those numbers tell only part of the story though. What impressed me most was their composure - when Finland made their inevitable runs, Japan never panicked. They stuck to their system, moved the ball, and got quality looks. That mental toughness, combined with their growing talent base, suggests this team is ready to compete consistently on the world stage.
As someone who's watched international basketball evolve over the past twenty years, I genuinely believe Japan is positioned to become Asia's next basketball powerhouse. Their blend of homegrown development and strategic naturalization, combined with a distinctive style that embraces both discipline and those "good vibes" Togashi mentioned, creates a compelling blueprint for other emerging programs. The days when Japan was simply an afterthought in international basketball are over - this new generation isn't just participating, they're coming to make their mark. And based on what I've seen, we'd all be wise to pay attention.
