Along with Suns’ Yuta Watanabe, Josh Hawkinson is expected to play a central role in supporting the inside of the Japanese national team at the World Cup. He started his career as a professional basketball player in the B. The 28-year-old young warrior, who has been the only player in Japan so far, has become an indispensable presence in the team as a big man who combines the outside angle shooting power and mobility that head coach Tom Horvath demands, as well as the hard work. We asked Hawkinson about his enthusiasm for the World Cup and about the literary and athletics part.
“I’m really looking forward to playing against Lauri Markkanen for the first time since college.”
――As an indispensable member of the Japanese national team, you are receiving a lot of attention from the media. How do you feel about being in the most spotlight since you came to Japan in the fall of 2017?
At first, I thought there would be a lot of interviews, but now I’m used to a lot of interviews. However, the hard part is answering in Japanese. I understand most of the questions, but I can’t give detailed answers in Japanese. I can answer your questions in simple and short Japanese. However, I want to make a more thoughtful comment, so I am speaking in English. The next step is to answer long and firmly in Japanese.
――You are expected to work at full capacity with Watanabe in the big man position.
In the B league, I play for an average of 30 minutes or more, so I have no particular concerns. Of course, the level of the World Cup will be higher than the B League. Without Hachimura, other players have to step up. Yuta will take on a more inside role. Not only him, but also (Watanabe) Hiyu and Mikey (Kawasanada Hiroya) will be a big key. When I’m not on the court as No. 5, I have to figure out how to deal with 10 to 15 minutes, such as rotation.
――It is true that the level of the opponents in the World Cup will be higher than in the B League. However, unlike other B-leaguers who have many match-ups between Japanese players, Hawkinson has always faced foreign big men. Do you think this experience will help you?
Since my first year in Japan, the level of foreign players has improved greatly year by year. In the current B League, the number of former NBA and Euroleague players (Europe’s premier stage) is increasing, and I think there are still quite a few players who have the ability to play in the Euroleague. For example, James Michael McAdoo and Ryan Kelly, who will be teammates at Sun Rockers Shibuya, are both former NBA players, and McAdoo has also won the NBA championship with the Warriors.
The level of foreign players in the current B League is very high. Matching them every game is a good preparation for the World Cup against Germany, Finland and Australia. Throughout my career, I’ve always played against high quality players. That’s why I don’t think you’ll feel a big difference in level even at the World Cup.
――Finland ace Lauri Markkanen, who is active in jazz, is from Arizona University in the same Pac-12 conference, and you played against him when he was a freshman.
I remember playing him in college. And after entering the NBA, he has grown a lot and become a mature player. In the 2016-17 season, we were competing for the top spot in the Pac-12 free throw rankings. (Final 83.5% Markkanen 1st, Hawkinson 83.3% 2nd). Guards usually top the free throw rankings. We were both big men playing 4th and 5th, and I think it was a good example of how high shooting power we are. I am really looking forward to playing against Markkanen.
“It’s great to see sports and analytics come together.”
――The head coach of Horvath is oriented towards analytical basketball, which emphasizes detailed data. And Hawkinson got an MBA in business analytics in college.
I had a little talk with Tom about this. He likes analytics in general, but has a particular interest in sports. His last essay on his MBA was on baseball’s pitch tunnel (the theory that a pitcher changes multiple pitches from the same trajectory so that it’s harder for the hitter to hit). Agent Wasserman gave me stats on control, ball speed, and changes between pitcher throw and catcher’s mitt. He wrote about pitch tunnels and how pitching motion affects hitters.
The connection between sports and analytics is great. 1.2 points for a 40% success rate on 3-point shots, 1.0 points for a 50% success rate on 2-point shots, and so on. Efficiency) and analytics are also interesting to me. Analytics is good, but don’t rely on it for everything. There are a lot of important factors that can’t be calculated in analytics numbers. As a basketball player, I know that. I love analytics, but my job is to find a good balance.
――Isn’t it really difficult to balance basketball and study if you were to get not only a bachelor’s degree but also an MBA in four years of college?
I took all the credits required for my bachelor’s degree in three years. Then, in my fourth year, I completed an MBA course. The university starts from the fall semester, ends with the winter semester and the spring semester, and has a summer school during the summer vacation. For many basketball players, summer school is a complementary way to meet NCAA eligibility. However, I took as many classes as I could at summer school in order to complete my bachelor’s degree in three years.
“I’m not interested in scoring 30 or 40 points in a game. All I care about is winning.”
――You have practiced both literary and military arts at a high level. Both of my parents were former professional basketball players, and after retiring, I have seen them run a company (Basketball Travelers Inc.) that organizes basketball tournaments and tours mainly for students. do you
Parents probably have the greatest job in the world. Their company invites teams from the 1st division of the NCAA to the Virgin Islands to hold a tournament called “Paradise Jam”. I love their work and I am even jealous. I want to be like them someday, but for now I plan to continue playing as a player as much as possible. A business career awaits. I’m still 28, and I may need to consider a second career when I’m 35 or 40, but now is not the time.
――It’s been six years since you came to Japan, and I think you’ve grown in many ways. Do veteran Shinshu Brave Warriors players, Anthony McHenry and Wayne Marshall, play a big part in that?
Mac (McHenry), Wayne taught me a lot, especially on defense. Mack is 40 and I think he was one of the best defenders in the league last season. His on-ball pressure is great and he can handle big men who are bigger than him. Wayne is a goal keeper and has a great pick-and-roll response. He has good footwork and keeps the ring well. After joining Shinshu, thanks to the two of them and coach (Katsuhisa) Michael, my defense has grown a lot.
――You, who can protect the 3rd to 5th, are a hybrid of the characteristics of the two players.
I am truly honored to be told that. Mack is a legend in the Japanese basketball world with a lot of wins. He’s a player who will do anything to win, he’s dedicated and doesn’t care about his stats at all. I want to be a player like him too. He doesn’t care about scoring 30 or 40 points a game, I only care about winning.
――Finally, please give a message to your fans.
Thank you to all the fans for their support. I look forward to showing the world what kind of player I am and what a great basketball country Japan is at the World Cup. Please continue to support us for the World Cup.
2023-07-20 10:21:49
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