The playoffs for the US professional basketball league "NBA" kicked off on April 20th. On the 19th, the day before, WOWOW live-streamed "NBA Playoffs Just Before! Big Predictions Special! ~That's Why the Playoffs Are So Fun~" on WOWOW On Demand and the official WOWOW YouTube channel, and the archived stream is still available. The guest was Hiroshi Tamura of the comedy duo "Kirin," known as a "basketball-loving comedian." In an interview after the live stream, he spoke in detail about his love for basketball, including the highlights of the upcoming playoffs and his thoughts on the basketball school he produces.
--This was your first appearance on WOWOW's NBA program in seven seasons. How was it performing in front of NBA fans?
I thought that these gatherings of NBA fans are still full of love. Because there is a big axis of NBA love, they accept even silly things, and that made me happy. NBA fans really don't waver. I was really happy to feel everyone's love for the first time in a long time. I've been to many events so far, and the people who participate are different each time, but strangely enough, the atmosphere is always the same.
--Tamura-san, who enjoys playing basketball eight times a week, what made you fall in love with the NBA?
I started playing basketball, and it was just when "SLAM DUNK" was popular. A classmate told me about the amazing world of the NBA, and I started watching it on BS TV. At the time, the members of the basketball club shared VHS videos and watched them. That was the start of my obsession.
Normally I would have continued watching it on TV, but in my case, my life was a bit irregular, and not only did I lose my TV, I lost my house too (laughs). I couldn't even watch TV, so I stayed away from the NBA for a while. But even after I became a comedian, I was still interested in it, and I thought, "The NBA is really interesting," so I started watching it again.
When I was in elementary school, the Bulls' Michael Jordan was at his peak, and I loved him so much that I naturally started watching the Bulls again, but then I was shocked by Derrick Rose. His speed was so fast that I thought, "It's not a timeline." I was numb. He was cool.
His (repeated) injuries were a real shock to me, but there was a lot I could learn from watching him change his playing style afterwards and find his place in the world.
-Please tell us how you enjoy the NBA playoffs.
If you could watch the regular season, you would understand how special the playoffs are. For NBA players and those aspiring to be in the NBA, that stage is glorious, and it's a place where you have to give it your all.
Of course, there are the Olympics and the World Cup, and they are all very moving, but I think the NBA playoffs are the hottest. Superhumans from all over the world gather and fight with all their might. I really want people to see the appeal of this.
-Please tell us who your favorite player is for the playoffs.
Of course, Rui Hachimura (Lakers) is one of the players I'm paying attention to, but the one I'm paying attention to is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder). He's a player who is so active that he could be the MVP this season, and I think his playing style can be a reference for Japanese players. That's why I want a lot of people to watch him, and if parents watch him and can talk to their children about the NBA, they might be able to mount a little (laughs).
Another player I'm interested in is Ja Morant (Grizzlies). His abilities are so high that people say he reminds me of the old Derrick Rose, but I feel like he may have surpassed Rose in some ways. In terms of the power to control the game, it's Rose, but Morant has a "non-conventional" feel and a soft image for a moment. He's like a big brother to Yuki Kawamura(Grizzlies), and he's becoming more and more mature. I think he's a player who still has room to grow. He's really fun to watch.
--What about Hachimura? I think he's fitting in well with the team, with his cooperation with Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
When LeBron and Doncic are doing well, Hachimura is doing a good job. Normally, LeBron and Doncic are the center and various players move in accordance with them, but in fact, there are times when I think that LeBron, Doncic, Austin Reeves and others are moving around Hachimura. It's amazing that a Japanese person is doing that.
--At the event you predicted that the NBA Finals would be between the Thunder (West) and the Cavaliers (East).
Of course, the Celtics (in the East) are also insanely strong. But the Celtics' basketball feels like "too strong royal road". They don't do anything extra, they're straight forward and orthodox. That's great in itself, but after watching them for a few years, I want to see something a little different. The finals between the Nuggets (West) and the Celtics are also realistic, and there are rivalries and stories, but I really want to see new cards.
--Changing the subject, I hear you're producing the basketball school "Kodobas." What prompted you to do that?
We started with basketball events for adults. It was harder to attract customers than we thought... so we decided to make clothes. We started our own brand and made our own clothing. But the clothes didn't sell as well as we thought (laughs). So we decided to broaden our target audience and this time target children. We thought, "Let's start our own school!" and that's how "Kodobasu" started. As a result, the school is now the biggest thing going and is the main thing that's running things.
--When producing a school, what do you feel is rewarding?
Teaching basketball to kids is really fun. It's so much fun. The kids all love basketball just like me, so they seriously absorb the techniques and ways of thinking. They listen intently. It's really moving to see them like that. Kids really do change in an instant. In just an hour, their eyes change, and they become like a different person. That ability to absorb is impressive as a human being.
For example, there are kids who have been told to play by their parents, and at first they're not even ready, but then one day they make a shot and say, "Oh, even I can make it!" or "Oh, it went in again!" and their eyes sparkle. I think it's moving just to see someone's growth. For me, it's an unbelievable joy that this is happening in the sport I love, basketball.
--Do the kids at your school watch the NBA?
Everyone is watching. Stephen Curry (Warriors) is still incredibly popular. He's hugely popular. Kawamura is also very popular. Of course, everyone is paying attention to Hachimura too.
If some of my students at my school were to become professional athletes or try out for the NBA... I wouldn't be able to handle it. There's nothing in life that makes me happier.
*WOWOW will broadcast and stream the first round of the NBA playoffs and the conference semifinals, one game per day, on WOWOW Live and WOWOW On Demand. All games of the conference finals and the NBA Finals will be broadcast live!
Upcoming broadcasts and streaming schedule: April 25th, 11:00 AM, Western Division 1st Round "Nuggets vs. Clippers" Game 3; April 26th, 10:30 AM, Western Division 1st Round "Lakers vs. Timberwolves" Game 3; April 27th, 9:30 AM, Western Division 1st Round "Rockets vs. Warriors" Game 3; April 28th, Playoffs 1st Round; April 29th, Playoffs 1st Round; April 30th, Playoffs 1st Round
