15 Japanese Basketball Icons: Their Impact on the NBA and Global Hoops

15 Japanese Basketball Icons: Their Impact on the NBA and Global Hoops

As a lifelong basketball enthusiast, I’ve witnessed firsthand the tremendous influence Japanese players have had on the sport, both in the NBA and worldwide. Their unique skills, determination and showmanship have shaped the game as we know it.

In this article, I’ll be counting down 15 iconic Japanese ballers who broke barriers and defined eras with their electrifying play. From trailblazing pioneers to current superstars, these athletes exemplify Japan‘s profound basketball legacy. Their stories need to be told. What they brought to the hardwood transcends statistics and accolades – it’s about heart.

So lace up your sneakers and join me on this journey celebrating Japanese basketball greats. Their gravity-defying dunks, sharpshooting and peerless vision will renew your passion for the game in ways you never imagined. The impact is real. Let’s dive in!

1. Wataru Misaka

Unknown University of Utah, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Wataru Misaka, a professional basketball player from the United States, holds the distinction of being the first non-white and the initial player of Asian origin to participate in the NBA, then recognized as the Basketball Association of America. Standing at 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m), Misaka served as a point guard with Japanese heritage and one of the shortest players to ever play in the NBA.

His basketball journey began as a Utah Utes player, contributing significantly to the team’s victories in NCAA and NIT championships in 1944 and 1947. The pivotal role he played in these successes earned him a place in the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. Notably, during the 1947-48 season, Misaka made notable appearances for the New York Knicks in the NBA.

2. Takuya Kawamura

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Takuya Kawamura is a Japanese professional basketball guard presently affiliated with the SeaHorses Mikawa. Opting to forgo college in 2005, he ventured into professional basketball under the guidance of Kazuo Nakamura.

In 2009, Kawamura took a significant step by departing from the Japan Basketball League, aspiring to secure a contract in the NBA. His opportunity materialized during the 2009 NBA Summer League, where the Phoenix Suns enlisted Kawamura on their roster.

Renowned for his offensive skills, he earned the nickname “Offence Machine.” Additionally, Kawamura’s communicative nature was evident as he hosted a radio show on Tochigi’s Radio Berry FM.

3. Takumi Ishizaki 

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Takumi Ishizaki is a Japanese former professional basketball player who previously competed for the Riesen Ludwigsburg in the German Basketball Bundesliga and BV Chemnitz 99 in the German ProA league in Germany. He has also represented the Japan national basketball team.

4. Rui Hachimura

Shuhei S from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hachimura is a Japanese professional basketball player currently affiliated with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Renowned for his versatile skills, he played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs and has been a pivotal member of the Japan national team.

Displaying proficiency in both small forward and power forward positions, Hachimura made a significant impact after being chosen ninth overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2019 NBA draft. His notable achievements include earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2020.

Hailing from Toyama Prefecture, Hachimura’s basketball journey commenced with triumphs at the youth level in Japan and continued to milestones at Gonzaga, solidifying his status as a trailblazing Japanese player in NCAA Division I basketball.

5. Shigeaki Abe

Shigeaki Abe is a Japanese basketball athlete who participated in the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics. Notably, during the 1976 Summer Olympics, he showcased a remarkable performance, recording 38 points and 10 assists in a standout game against Puerto Rico.

6. Yuta Watanabe

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Yuta Watanabe is a Japanese professional basketball player currently associated with the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His basketball journey includes playing college basketball for the George Washington Colonials (now Revolutionaries) in the United States, where he achieved the distinction of being the first Japanese-born student-athlete to secure an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship.

Watanabe garnered recognition for his defensive prowess, earning the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year title in 2018. Additionally, he has represented the Japan national team, contributing to their bronze medal win at the 2013 East Asia Basketball Championship.

Watanabe’s basketball trajectory began at Jinsei Gakuen High School in Zentsūji, Kagawa, followed by a transfer to St. Thomas More Preparatory School in Oakdale, Connecticut in 2013, where he gained prominence as a valuable player in the National Prep School Invitational. In college, he further etched his name in history as the fourth Japanese-born Division I basketball player.

7. Yuta Tabuse

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Yuta Tabuse is a Japanese professional basketball player currently affiliated with Utsunomiya Brex in the B.League. Operating as a point guard, Tabuse stands at 1.75 meters (5 ft 9 in) and weighs 75 kilograms (165 lb).

Notably, he holds the distinction of being the first Japanese-born player to participate in a National Basketball Association (NBA) game. Tabuse garnered widespread popularity in Japan from his high school days, where he led his team to three consecutive national championships.

Revered as “the Michael Jordan of Japan,” Tabuse enjoys celebrity status for his significant contributions to the sport.

8. J. R. Henderson

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Sakuragi, also known as J. R. Sakuragi, is an American-Japanese professional basketball player. Raised in Bakersfield, California, he showcased his versatile skills playing college basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), contributing to the Bruins’ national championship in 1994–95.

Capable of playing all five positions, Sakuragi received recognition as the team’s most valuable freshman and earned All-Pac-10 first team honors in his sophomore and senior seasons. Selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1998 NBA draft, he played one season in the NBA before venturing to teams in Las Vegas and France.

Sakuragi later moved to Japan, joining the Aisin Seahorses of the JBL Super League in 2001. Notably, he became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 2007, adopting the name J. R. Sakuragi, and represented the Japan national team in the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship.

Committed to Japan, Sakuragi learned Japanese to fulfill naturalization requirements, intending to remain in Japan without plans to return to the U.S.

9. Nick Fazekas

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Nicholas Ryan Fazekas is an American-born Japanese professional basketball player currently associated with the Kawasaki Brave Thunders in the B.League of Japan. Initially considering the 2006 NBA draft, Fazekas retained college eligibility for another year.

In the 2007 NBA draft, he was selected 34th overall by the Dallas Mavericks. Fazekas later signed a one-year contract with the Mavericks, showcasing his skills in the Summer League. Subsequently released in 2008, he briefly joined the Clippers before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Fazekas participated in the Boston Celtics’ 2009 Summer League and contributed significantly to Japan’s historic FIBA victory in the 2019 World Cup, playing alongside Laker Rui Hachimura.

10. Keisei Tominaga

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Keisei Tominaga, a Japanese collegiate basketball player, currently plays for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Big Ten Conference. Formerly part of Ranger College, Tominaga has showcased his exceptional shooting skills beyond the arc and a jump shot reminiscent of NBA star Stephen Curry, earning him the nickname the “Japanese Steph Curry.”

Beyond his collegiate journey, Tominaga has contributed to the Japan men’s national basketball team and the national 3×3 team, highlighting his proficiency on both domestic and international basketball platforms.

11. Josh Hawkinson

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Joshua Haakon Hawkinson, an American-born Japanese professional basketball player from Seattle, Washington, United States, currently competes for Sun Rockers Shibuya in the B.League. Hawkinson made his mark in college basketball with the Washington State Cougars, concluding his collegiate career as the school’s record-holder for rebounds and double-doubles.

Achieving Japanese citizenship in 2023, Hawkinson embarked on his professional journey. After signing his inaugural contract with the Toyotsu Fighting Eagles in 2017, he continued to contribute to the team until the 2019–20 season.

Transitioning to the Shinshu Brave Warriors for the 2020–21 season, Hawkinson remained with them for the subsequent two seasons. In June 2023, he inked a deal with Sun Rockers Shibuya, and his commitment to Japanese basketball extended to representing the national team at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

12. Yudai Baba

Shuhei S from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yudai Baba, a Japanese professional basketball player, recently showcased his skills with the Texas Legends in the NBA G League. His basketball journey began at the University of Tsukuba, where he honed his talents.

Baba has significantly contributed to the Japan men’s national basketball team, displaying prowess in various competitions. Notably, at the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup, he demonstrated an all-around performance with averages of 5.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

His excellence continued in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, where he maintained averages of 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Additionally, Baba played a pivotal role in Japan’s campaign at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, delivering standout performances and showcasing his skills alongside prominent Japanese NBA players.

13. Makoto Hiejima

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Makoto Hiejima, a Japanese professional basketball standout, currently plays for Utsunomiya Brex in the Japanese B.League. Beginning his career with Aisin Seahorses Mikawa in 2013 after attending Aoyama Gakuin University, Hiejima played a vital role in the team’s successes during the B.League’s inaugural seasons.

His exceptional performance earned him the league MVP title in 2017–18, posting impressive averages of 12.9 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 55 games. In 2018, Hiejima signed a five-year contract with Link Tochigi Brex, showcasing his commitment to the team.

His international journey commenced in 2013 at the FIBA Asia Championship, and in 2014, he played a pivotal role in securing bronze for Japan at the Asian Games.

14. Yuki Kawamura

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Yuki Kawamura, a rising talent in Japanese basketball, currently plays for the Yokohama B-Corsairs in the B.League. In the 2022–23 season, Kawamura transitioned to full professionalism, making an immediate impact by earning the B.League’s MVP award and Rookie of the Year honors.

His stellar performance also secured a spot on the prestigious Best Five team. Kawamura’s journey with the Japanese national team began at the 2017 FIBA U16 Asian Championships, and he made his senior debut in July 2022.

Notably, he played a crucial role in Japan’s upset victory over Finland at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter, marking a historic win against a European team.

15. Yuki Togashi 

Shuhei S from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yuki Togashi stands as a notable Japanese professional basketball player, showcasing his skills with the Chiba Jets Funabashi in Japan’s B.League. His journey commenced in January 2013 when he signed with the Akita Northern Happinets of the bj league.

Togashi made an impactful debut, recording 15 points, 11 assists, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals in a victory over the Toyama Grouses. Rejoining the Happinets for the 2013–14 season, he marked his first full professional season, earning accolades such as a spot on the BJ League’s Best Five Team and MVP honors at the league’s All-Star game in January 2014.

Togashi’s dynamic career included a brief stint with the Dallas Mavericks in the 2014 NBA Summer League, where he became a fan favorite. He later ventured into international competitions, representing Japan in the William Jones Cup and the Asian Games, securing a bronze medal in the latter in 2014.

Togashi’s impact extends beyond borders, marking him as a significant figure in Japanese basketball.

As we’ve seen, these 15 icons have left an indelible mark on basketball, bringing Japanese style and values to the highest levels. Their larger-than-life skills and personas made the game what it is today.

I hope reliving their journeys rekindled your hoops’ passion. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many more untold stories of Japanese basketball heroes waiting to inspire us.