Basketball in Japan is booming, and Keisei Tominaga has emerged as one of its leading icons. The sharpshooter has come a long way, from the collegiate courts of the United States to becoming a national celebrity.
In this 1xBet review, we take a look at his career and why he is a contender for superstar status.
Road to recognition
Tominaga honed his skills within the American college system. He began at Ranger College, where he quickly drew attention as a sharpshooter. In one of his sophomore-year clashes, he delivered a standout performance, hitting 11 three-pointers. Later, in the NCAA, the guard enjoyed an impressive spell with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Under Fred Hoiberg, the former coach of the legendary Chicago Bulls, Tominaga took his game to another level.
During the 2023-24 season, Tominaga became the team’s leader, averaging 15 points per game, earning an All-Big Ten spot, and playing in March Madness. Although he was not selected in the NBA Draft, he later signed with the Indiana Pacers and spent the season with their G League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants.
Unfortunately, Tominaga failed to break into the NBA. At 188 cm, he struggled to cope with the physicality of highly athletic guards. The young player wasn't yet ready for the intense competition for a spot in an NBA rotation. While the Pacers organization acknowledged his shooting talent, they didn’t give him the time he needed to develop further. In 2025, he returned to his home country and joined Levanga Hokkaido.
Why he’s called the Japanese Steph Curry
Tominaga’s greatest talent is his remarkable long-range shot. In the NBA, there’s talk of the specific "gravity" that players of his type create on the court. Opponents start to worry about them the moment they cross the half-court line.
Tominaga has explosive speed and a unique knack for finding shooting opportunities. He excels off-ball screens and can hit fadeaway jumpers under tight defensive pressure. It’s no surprise that his ability to string together accurate long-range shots has earned him comparisons to Curry.
How the 3x3 format forged his character
3x3 basketball was a crucial catalyst for Tominaga’s development, and he made his mark at the 2020 Olympics. As the youngest player on the Japan national team, he emerged as the squad’s top scorer, averaging 6.9 points per game. As those familiar with 1xBet Japan know, playing on a smaller court demands split-second decision-making, elite technical skill, and the ability to create space for a shot amidst intense physical contact. These conditions helped sharpen his craft and enhanced his focus.
Challenge of the 2026-27 season
The current B.League season presents an ambitious task for Tominaga. Historically, his club, Levanga Hokkaido, has not been among the leaders in Japanese basketball. However, with his arrival, the team came within a hair’s breadth of the playoffs in the 2025-26 season, finishing 5th in their conference.
Tominaga’s international experience, including appearances at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the Paris Olympics, has made him the team’s leader. This season, he is averaging 25.1 points per game, placing him among the league’s top three scorers. Opponents are now forced to play tighter defense against him. Yet, if Tominaga can maintain this pace throughout the season, he will undoubtedly be a contender for the MVP title.
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