The sight of Rui Hachimura at the Japanese National Training Center in Tokyo on Saturday likely left Japanese basketball fans feeling optimistic. They hope that the team can amaze the world this summer during the 2024 Olympic Games.
Some believe that Akatsuki Japan is sending its best team ever to Paris, a team with experienced talent, dynamic young stars, players with experience abroad and a coach, Tom Hovasse, who led the Japanese women to a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
The biggest reason, though, is an older and wiser — though still only 26 — Hachimura, a former first-round draft pick and veteran of four NBA seasons. The 6-foot-1, 203-centimeter (6’1”) Los Angeles Lakers forward is back with the national team for the first time since the Tokyo Games and joined his teammates Saturday at the training center, where Japan was practicing to begin the final phase of its Olympic preparation.
