Japan Men’s National Basketball Team Roster | Squad & Players 2023/2024
Basketball may not be the first sport that comes to mind when thinking about Japan, but the country’s Men’s National Basketball Team has been steadily making waves in the international basketball scene. With a growing pool of talented players and a renewed focus on the sport, Japan is emerging as a force to be reckoned with. In this blog, we will explore the current roster of the Japan Men’s National Basketball Team and highlight the players who form this exciting lineup.
Japan Men’s National Basketball Team General Information
| Nickname | The Samurai |
| Association | Japan Basketball Association (JBA) |
| Coach | Julio Lamas |
| Captain | Yuki Togashi |
| Best Finish at Olympics | 11th (1976) |
| Best Finish at FIBA World Cup | 6th (1967) |
| Most Appearances at Olympics | 7 (1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1994, 2004, 2020) |
| Most Appearances at FIBA World Cup | 6 (1963, 1967, 1970, 1974, 2006, 2019) |
| Current Ranking | 32nd (FIBA World Ranking) |
| Website | https://www.japanbasketball.jp/ |
About Japan Men’s National Basketball Team
The Japan men’s national basketball team is administered by the Japan Basketball Association (JBA). As the 1936 founding member of FIBA Asia, Japan has one of Asia’s longest basketball traditions. Japan has one of the most successful basketball teams in Asia. It has won the Asian Basketball Championships twice and is the second leading nation in qualifications to the event. The team qualified for the Olympic Games 7 times and for the FIBA World Cup six times.
Overshadowed by the drawbacks at international competitions, Japan brought forth several of Asia’s elite basketball players who competed in the NBA and in Europe. These players included Yuta Tabuse, J.R. Sakuragi, Takuya Kawamura, Takumi Ishizaki and others. However, they rarely played for the national team, which caused Team Japan to fall behind Asia’s elite competition from Iran, South Korea, the Philippines and China.
In recent years, Japan has made a resurgence on the international stage. The team qualified for the 2019 FIBA World Cup and finished in 17th place. They also qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where they finished in 11th place.
The current head coach of the Japan men’s national basketball team is Julio Lamas, a former Argentine professional basketball player and coach. Lamas has been the head coach of the team since 2017.
The current captain of the Japan men’s national basketball team is Yuki Togashi, a point guard who plays for the Alvark Tokyo of the B.League. Togashi has been the captain of the team since 2019.
Japan Men’s National Basketball Team Roster 2023/2024
Here is the current roster for the Japan National Basketball team.
| Pos. | No. | Name | Date of birth (Age) | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 2 | Yuki Togashi | 30-07-1993 (29) | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | Chiba Jets Funabashi |
| SG | 6 | Makoto Hiejima | 11-04-1990 (33) | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | Utsunomiya Brex |
| SF | 8 | Rui Hachimura | 08-02-1998 (25) | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) | Washington Wizards |
| PG | 9 | Leo Vendrame | 14-11-1993 (29) | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | Sun Rockers Shibuya |
| SF | 12 | Yuta Watanabe | 13-10-1996 (26) | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) | Toronto Raptors |
| SG | 14 | Kosuke Kanamaru | 08-03-1989 (34) | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | Shimane Susanoo Magic |
| SF | 18 | Seahorses Mikawa | 07-11-1995 (27) | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | Melbourne United |
| PF | 23 | Gavin Edwards | 15-01-1988 (35) | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) | Chiba Jets Funabashi |
| SG | 24 | Daiki Tanaka | 03-09-1991 (31) | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | Alvark Tokyo |
| C | 32 | Avi Schafer | 28-01-1998 (25) | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) | SeaHorses Mikawa |
| PF | 34 | Hugh Watanabe | 23-12-1998 (24) | 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) | Ryukyu Golden Kings |
| SF | 88 | Tenketsu Harimoto | 08-01-1992 (31) | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | Nagoya Diamond Dolphins |
Conclusion
The Japan Men’s National Basketball Team roster showcases a blend of emerging talents and experienced players who are making significant strides in the world of basketball. With the likes of Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe leading the charge, Japan has demonstrated that they are a team to be taken seriously on the international stage. As the team continues to develop and gain experience, they have the potential to achieve even greater success and inspire a new generation of basketball enthusiasts in Japan. The future looks bright for Japanese basketball, and fans eagerly await the team’s upcoming performances on the global basketball stage.
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