The Los Angeles Lakers were swept 4-0 by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals of this year’s playoffs, entering a months-long offseason. For the Chinese men’s basketball team, this early elimination is bad news—it gives Japanese player Rui Hachimura more time to prepare for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in July. As arguably the top player in Asia, Hachimura has been named to Japan’s latest 53-man roster, marking his return to the national team after several years. With the Japanese Basketball Association choosing Hachimura over coach Tom Hovasse, the forward has no reason to decline the call-up this time.
Hachimura’s return poses a significant challenge for China. When the two teams met in February, China struggled even against a Japan side without Hachimura, trailing by as many as 15 points before rallying in the second half to eke out a win. With Hachimura on the court, Japan’s strength will be greatly enhanced. In the NBA, he serves as a spot-up shooter and floor-spacing power forward for the Lakers, but for Japan, he becomes the absolute focal point with more touches and shots. This postseason, Hachimura was on fire, averaging 17 points and 4 rebounds while hitting 3.3 three-pointers per game.
Given Hachimura’s individual skill and athleticism, it’s difficult for any player on China’s current frontline to match up with him. His presence will be a major defensive test. Meanwhile, Yuki Kawamura of the Chicago Bulls—also named to Japan’s roster—is almost certain to play. Chinese fans are familiar with the 1.70-meter guard, who has managed to earn NBA minutes despite his height, a testament to his ability. The combination of Hachimura and Kawamura dramatically raises the difficulty for China when they face Japan on July 3. Even if Yang Hansen returns, it will be an uphill battle, and a loss is a real possibility.
Worse yet, China’s losses to South Korea in the previous window have left them third in Group B of the World Cup qualifiers with a 2-2 record. The July window—two games against Japan and Chinese Taipei—is a must-win situation. Only the top three teams from each group advance to the second round; the fourth is eliminated. With Chinese Taipei at 1-3, China cannot afford any slip-ups. The schedule has China hosting Japan on July 3 before facing Chinese Taipei at a neutral venue on July 6. Every game is a survival battle. The goal of this national team is to return to the Olympics, which is tied to World Cup performance. If they can’t even make it to the World Cup, talk of returning to the Olympics is meaningless.