BEIRUT (Lebanon) - The curtains of the Group Phase in WASL - Gulf have now come down and during the brief intermission before the start of the Final Phase, there’s a lot to take away from the action that has been going on.

There have been some highs and lows for each of the teams in this inaugural season as the teams have competed in close games and made adjustments. We’ve seen the swings like Al Nasr Riyadh/Al Sadd or Al Hilal/Shabab Al Ahli - Dubai trading wins. We’ve seen Kazma bounce back from a string of close losses to handing an undefeated team their first loss.

Amid all of the chaos in WASL - Gulf, however, there has been one constant: Kuwait Club's dominance.

"We love basketball and the game that’s why we are here, looking to get better and better."

After all 6 games of the Group Phase, the mighty club from Kuwait are undefeated. Moreover, they have been able to win more comfortably as each game passes.

One of the key factors is their star-studded trio of Marcus Georges-Hunt, Cody Lalanne, and Jacob Pullen. While the majority of the teams in the upper half of the standings in their respective groups have made some personnel changes, Kuwait Club have stood their ground with their leading performers.

And the reason that those three can put on a show the way that they have been is because of the duo in the lineup that has been balling out for Kuwait Club.

Meet the Hasan brothers.

It starts with big brother Hamad Hasan. The 25-year-old guard has been one of the most important players on a team that is leading the competition in average points, rebounds, and assists. With an average EFF rating of 16.7 per game, Hamad is truly one of the best non-foreign players in WASL - Gulf, trailing only Mohammed Alsuwailem and Babacar Dieng.

In terms of traditional statistics, Hamad Hasan is averaging a very healthy line of 11.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists (Top 10 in WASL - Gulf) in 25.6 minutes per game. He’s come close to recording a triple-double, such as when he recorded 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists against Al Nasr Riyadh which led to him being voted by the fans as the WASL - Gulf Player of the Week in Week 4.

Hamad Hasan is a true baller… as what you would expect from someone who started playing at the age of 10. He quickly rose up the ranks in Kuwait basketball and went from starring at the U18 Asian Championship in 2014 (20.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game) to make his senior national team debut at FIBA Asia Cup 2015 (15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds per game as an 18-year-old).

Because of his relatively quick rise to success in the Kuwaiti basketball circles, it was easy to be inspired and motivated by his play. And Hamad Hasan would not have to go far to find one person that was inspired by his play.

"I started [playing basketball] when I knew that Hamad was joining a basketball team," said Mohammad, the younger of the Hasan brothers. "He was the first one in the family who started playing basketball and then it was me after I saw him play."

The forward was quick to make a name for himself in the Kuwait basketball circles as well as he was a key player for Kuwait at the U16 Asian Championship in 2015 (11.6 points, 8.3 rebounds per game).

The 22-year-old is also an important part of the undefeated Kuwait Club squad in WASL - Gulf. He’s averaging 26.4 minutes in the 5 games he’s played so far, boasting solid numbers of 9.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per contest. Like big brother Hamad, he’s also been voted by the fans as WASL - Gulf Player of the Week in Week 6 when he recorded 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists against Al Sadd.

The brotherly duo have been playing with each other for this Kuwait Club for a long time, at least ever since the FIBA Asia Champions Cup GBA Qualifiers back in 2021. That is why it makes sense to see both of them share the court for long periods with this Kuwait Club team.

As a matter of fact, the two were also even able to play with each other on the senior national team for the first time this past February as they suited up for Kuwait at the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Pre-Qualifers.

"I have dreamed of that moment since when I was young and it [finally] came true," said Mohammad.

Both played very well for Kuwait with Hamad averaging 14.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists and Mohammad averaging 12.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, but were unfortunately unable to advance to the Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Having grown up with each other and playing with each other almost all the time, the Hasan brothers now naturally know how to make the most of each other’s potential.

"When one of us is on [fire], we feed each other and know what is good for us," said Mohammad.

"As I am the older brother I always feel good when my little brother makes his shots or plays good defense and that’s what hypes me up," added Hamad.

Even after all this time, they are still learning from each other every single day from playing with, training with, and just being around each other.

"I wish I could be calm as he is," said Hamad of what he could take from his little brother.

Mohammad, of course, has learned a lot from Hasan, but some words of advice have stuck with him more than others: "Don’t do what you didn’t work for, and we will always have each other's backs on and off the court."

More than anything else, however, it is their shared love for the game that continues to push them forward.

"We love basketball and the game that’s why we are here, looking to get better and better," said Hamad.

That must be music to the ears of Kuwait Club fans as their quest through this inaugural WASL - Gulf season continues. Now that Kuwait Club have wrapped up the Group Phase with no losses and are at the top of the standings in Group B, they will need the best versions of their players to be ready as the level of intensity kicks up a notch.

Going into the Final Phase, only three teams from WASL - Gulf will proceed to the WASL Final 8. From there, only two teams from the WASL Final 8 will book their spots at the FIBA Asia Champions Cup. If Kuwait Club are aiming to advance further through the competition, further than their journey back in 2021, they will need the Hasan brothers to keep on performing at this high-level and maybe even more.

It’s reassuring to know that Hamad and Mohammad will be always pushing and supporting each other so that they can help Kuwait Club can go as far as possible.

FIBA