Rui Hachimura is back with Japan in time for the Paris 2024 Olympic basketball tournament. Unfortunately for Tom Hovasse’s men, Yuta Watanabe it could head in the opposite direction.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Hachimura returned to his national team for the first time since then Tokyo 2020 on Saturday (June 29), but it was revealed that Watanabe is in a fitness match for this summer’s Games with a torn left calf muscle and no clear timetable for his return.
It goes without saying that if the former NBA forward is ruled out for Paris, it would be a blow to Japan who are tasked with reaching their first Olympic quarter-final from a group that includes FIBA World Cup champions Germany and France. and a yet-to-be-determined qualifier.
“I’ll say this now, but I’ve been injured since the beginning of June and aggravated it last week,” Watanabe said after the 16-man provisional squad trained in Tokyo. “I don’t have much time until the Games and I’m cutting it very short.
“Honestly, I’m a little disappointed why now? But I could go on and on and nothing would change. I will pour out my soul to get my leg as best as I can.
“The same thing happened last year (before the World Cup). I got hurt and somehow managed to get over it, so I hope to build on that experience. As things stand, I don’t know how many weeks it might take.”
A lot will fall on Hachimura’s shoulders if Watanabe misses the Games, but the Tokyo 2020 Olympian appeared genuinely happy to be back ready to suit up for his country.
“It’s great to be back in the national team after three years,” he said. “It’s an honor to play in the Olympics and I’m looking forward to it. We couldn’t get the job done at the Tokyo Olympics, so I really hope this time we can show how far we’ve come.”
During Hachimura’s absence at last year’s World Cup on home soil, Japan made strides, beating European rivals Finland for the first time in the tournament and qualifying for the Olympics for the first time in 48 years.
Next week in a home friendly against Korea Republic, Hachimura is expected to get his first game under Hovasse and try out some new teammates as young guns Yuki Kawamura and Tominaga Keisei.
“I think I fit coach Tom’s style well,” Hachimura said. “Offensively, I think I can shine as an athlete. The first game against Germany will be crucial. I’m one of the older guys on the team now and I hope to have a positive impact on the younger guys.”