Feb 26, 2026 (News On Japan) - Basketball is booming in Japan. The national team has competed in back-to-back Olympics for the first time since the 1970s.
Rui Hachimura and Yuki Kawamura play in the NBA, while the B.League has firmly established itself as one of the brightest and most commercially successful leagues in Asia. We have prepared a 1xBet review of five players from our championship who deserve special admiration.
Yuki Togashi
The point guard, just 168 centimeters tall, has become one of the league’s best players of the past decade. The 2019 MVP has been delighting Chiba Jets fans for 11 years. Yuki is incredibly fast: his sharp dribbling and ability to confuse opponents with passes that seem impossible make the Jets’ games especially exciting. Five Emperor’s Cup victories and the 2021 championship would not have been possible without him. Yuki’s play is proof that physical attributes do not decide everything in basketball.
Makoto Hiejima
If you’re craving long-range magic, keep an eye on Hiejima, the 2025 league leader in three-point percentage. A player who consistently shoots over 40% from beyond the arc fully deserves comparisons to Steph Curry. For Makoto, there’s no such thing as a bad shooting position. His recent performances have been a continuous highlight reel. B.League victories in 2022 and 2025, the Champions League Asia title, and 30 points in the tournament final prove his supreme level.
Yudai Baba
A two-time league champion with Alvark Tokyo, Baba moved to Australia in 2020, where he also won the NBL title, before returning home three years ago. His drives to the paint are almost guaranteed to end in a powerful slam dunk. Yudai’s play turned Nagasaki Velca into a Western Conference leader. Baba captained the national team at the most recent Asia Cup, played in the NBA Summer League for the New York Knicks, and seems to defy gravity.
Jarrett Culver
The arrival of such a player to the B.League became a sensation. Back in 2019, Culver was selected sixth overall in the NBA draft, played for Minnesota and Memphis, tried his hand in Atlanta, and in 2025 ended up with the Sendai 89ers.
From his very first games, he has confirmed his level: his smooth movements, flawless jump shot, and composure in decisive moments make it feel as if you’re watching a video game hero. The team’s top scorer promises to lead them to a title, and his words inspire confidence.
Josh Hawkinson
The naturalized American has become a national hero in our country. Since arriving in Japan in 2017, Josh has shown that he does not know how to give up.
Hawkinson can play both center and power forward and is capable of dominating opponents at either position. His performances during the 2024 Olympic qualification, when he scored close to 30 points several times, are unforgettable for national team fans. Fierce blocks, diving saves into the stands, and the ability to fire up the crowd – Hawkinson brings all of this to every clash.
These five names are just the tip of the iceberg. Want to know more? Follow 1xBet!
