Japanese star Hachimura to miss basketball World Cup

Japanese basketball star Hachimura Rui will not take part in the FIBA Basketball World Cup this summer as he wishes to focus on his NBA career.

The Japan Basketball Association said it has decided not to call upon the NBA player, respecting his wishes.

Hachimura released a comment saying, "I have decided to skip this year's FIBA World Cup. All apologies for the disappointing news to the fans who were looking forward to the World Cup."

He added, "It was a very difficult decision but after the season and a long play-offs, and with my first free agency ahead of me, I made this decision in the best interests of my future NBA carrier. This summer, I hope to focus on the training and getting my body ready for next season."

The Basketball World Cup is scheduled to be held from August to September in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. The Japanese team will face off against Australia, Germany and Finland in the first round of the event.

But the absence of Hachimura is seen as a serious blow to the Japanese national team.

If Japan is best ranked among Asian countries in the event, it will go to the Paris Olympic Games next year. But Japan will become unable to advance to the final qualifying matches unless it is among the top 16 teams or the second-best among Asian teams.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230627_16/