TOKYO (Japan) - Rui Hachimura has been named part of a vast talent pool Japan has put together for a busy summer ahead, giving the impression that a comeback with the national team is on the horizon.
The Japanese Basketball Association (JBA) on Friday, May 1, announced the 53-man roster through its official social media channels and a glaring sight in the long list was the inclusion of the star forward.
Fans have been waiting to see the current Los Angeles Laker suit up for white-and-red since his campaign in the 2024 Paris Olympics unfortunately got cut short no thanks to a calf injury.
He had to leave to focus on recovery but Hachimura was without a doubt a piece so important for the squad of then-head coach Tom Hovasse as he averaged 22.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in the 2 games he played.
But soon, he could be back with the team after being enlisted once more to a pool that also features a bevy of established names such as Yuta Watanabe, Yuki Kawamura, and Yuki Togashi, to name just a few.
Aside from reuniting with his old teammates, there's also been some curiosity brewing as to how he will mesh with new head coach Dai Oketani, who took over the reins from Hovasse last February.
This massive pool of players was made by the JBA in preparation for a stacked summer, in which the team will be competing in three major competitions - with the aim, of course, to succeed in each of those stints.
Oketani & Co. will soon be preparing for the third window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, where Japan are currently leading a loaded Group B with a 3-1 record. This puts them in a good position to qualify for the Second Round which will tip off late August during the fourth window of the World Cup Qualifiers.
Also in their calendar are the 20th Asian Games, which the country will be hosting from September 14-October, looking of course to maximize homecourt advantage in a bid to win their first medal since 2014.
FIBA