Rui Hachimura (26, LA Lakers), the nucleus of the Japanese national basketball team who is playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA), directly criticized the Japan Basketball Association and called for a replacement of coach, but the association announced that there would be no change in the current coach system. In response, Hachimura even expressed his intention to not participate in the next Olympics.
Japanese media outlet Chunichi Sports reported on the 25th, “Despite Hachimura’s remarks, the Japan Basketball Association announced its intention to prepare for the 2028 LA Olympics under coach Tom Horvath.” The secretary-general of the Japan Basketball Association said, “There is no change in policy to prepare for the Olympics under the current system,” and added, “There are no additional comments or media responses planned under the current situation.”
Hachimura unusually criticized the Japan Basketball Association in a recent NBA post-game interview. He talked about the Japanese national basketball team in an interview with the distinguished player after the victory against Memphis on the 14th.
Hachimura said, “It’s not something I want to say much about,” but added, “I feel like (the Basketball Association) has a goal of making money with the Japanese national team.” The association is paying more attention to sponsors and income rather than strengthening the national team.
Hachimura also expressed critical opinions about the association’s recent four-year contract extension with national team coach Tom Horvath. Hachimura said, “There must be a coach worthy of the Japanese national team. He expressed his dissatisfaction with Coach Horvath’s reappointment, saying, “Someone who knows Japan’s top players and has coached professionally should become the coach.” Coach Horvath led the Japanese women’s team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In recognition of his achievements in winning the silver medal at this competition, he was appointed as the head coach of the men’s national team. Coach Horvath led the men’s national team to the Olympic finals for the first time in 48 years, but led the team with the strongest members of all time, including Hachimura, and was eliminated in the group stage with three losses in Paris. The Japan Basketball Association signed a four-year extension contract with Coach Horvath this month until the 2028 Olympics.
After Hachimura’s remarks, the association said, “It seems there was a lack of communication with the player. “We take this seriously,” he announced, but did not specifically indicate his intention to change the association’s operating policy.
Hachimura responded to the association’s passive response the previous day, saying, “I cannot see the spirit of player first.” I don’t want to play for a national team like that. “I don’t know if the association is really thinking about Japanese basketball.” Regarding Coach Horvath, “If you look at the training methods and strategy meetings, I don’t think they are world-class. The association says it has chosen a world-class coach, but that is not the case. He raised his voice, saying, “The performance we achieved in the Basketball World Cup was not because of the new coach, but because our younger generation came forward.”
Hachimura, who has not stopped criticizing the association, said, “I don’t know what will happen” regarding participation in the 2028 LA Olympics.
