Shuuta Hara, a player for Chiba Jets Funabashi in the professional basketball league B.League, gave an interview after commentating on the NBA Cup 2024 West Group B Lakers vs Spurs, which was broadcast live on WOWOW on November 16th. Hara spoke about his thoughts on Rui Hachimura (Los Angeles Lakers) and Yuki Kawamura (Memphis Grizzlies), players and teams to watch this season, and highlights of the Nuggets vs Lakers match, which will be broadcast live on the 24th.
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--Today, you were a guest commentator for the Lakers vs Spurs match. Unfortunately, Hachimura did not play, but what did you think of the match?
Shuuta Hara: Both the Lakers and the Spurs are very interesting teams this year. The players haven't changed much, but the Lakers changed their head coach, and the Spurs added Chris Paul, so I think they've become very different teams. Last year, the Lakers had the impression that they were able to push through with individual strength for a long time, but today they made a play in the final stages by matching a cut with a pass. Of course, they still attack with AD (Anthony Davis) and LeBron (James) as the core of their offense, but it's very interesting to see them make a team agreement and attack with set plays.
As for the Spurs, last year they weren't a team centered around Victor Wembanyama, but this year, with Chris Paul's addition, they've balanced their offense, and they used Wembanyama to do pick-and-rolls and pick-and-pops. Of course, I enjoyed commentating on them.
--This season, LeBron has taken a step back for the Lakers, and Davis has taken the lead. What is your impression of that?
Hara: As long as AD is healthy... (they can win). It's been like that since last year and the year before, but that's what I'm worried about. The Lakers are also injured, with Christian Wood and others injured, so the only thing we're worried about is injuries to players. LeBron has the ball sometimes, but when he doesn't, he moves off the ball during set plays, or goes one-on-one off the ball, and other different aspects of him are coming out. LeBron also has more than nine assists (average per game). I think the increase in his assists is a good trend for the Lakers.
--LeBron is naturally getting weaker physically, so why is he able to cover that?
Hara: I think it's his high IQ. Like Chris Paul, LeBron is good at making assists, positioning, and making decisions like, "I'm going to pass to a teammate because so-and-so is there." He doesn't miss any gaps or mismatches that the viewer doesn't notice, and he passes the ball to them. That's why I think he gets more assists. Also, it seems like his jumping ability has weakened, but his passing, momentum, and breakthrough power when he participates in transition are still amazing.
－－This season, Hachimura is doing well, making three-point shots with a high success rate. What do you think of his performance?
Hara: When he was with the Washington Wizards, I got the impression that he played a lot of post plays. Since coming to the Lakers, he has improved his judgment after receiving a pass and his ability to make shots, and I get the impression that he has become a more efficient player. However, I don't know if this is his own issue or if the team just has fewer opportunities to shoot, but I feel like he could take more three-pointers.
－－So there is still room for improvement.
Hara: That's right. Austin Reeves is now becoming a third option, so if the next, fourth or fifth player could efficiently score 15 or 20 points in a game, I think the Lakers would be even stronger.
－－What do you think of Wenbanyama, who is in his second year in the NBA this season?
Hara: I'm sure you're all thinking the same thing when you watch him, but he's not only capable of shooting three-pointers, he also has skills such as handling, so he's incredible. If he can make more 3-pointers, I think he'll be unstoppable.
--This season, Kawamura (Memphis Grizzlies) has been the talk of the town. How do you feel about his NBA debut, Hara?
Hara: Actually, I stole the ball from him once in the B.League (laughs). So I'd be happy if he becomes more famous. I played against Kawamura when he was at Fukuoka Daiichi High School, and I thought he was a great high school player back then, but at the time he was more of a player who focused on assists, and I never thought he'd end up in the NBA.
I was also surprised that he went from an Exhibit 10 contract (a non-guaranteed minimum salary that allows him to participate in training camps) to a 2-way contract (allowing him to play for both the NBA team and its G League affiliate). He said it himself, but I thought it would take a little longer for him to get there.
--Kawamura is popular not only for his performance, but also with his teammates and fans, especially the Grizzlies.
Hara: I think that's a good thing. I don't think his playing time is short and his skills aren't up to par. I know his personality, but I think it's because of him that everyone supports him and Ja Morant (the Grizzlies' ace) likes him. He's the one who's gained popularity, so I take it very positively. Fans saying "Let Kawamura play" at the end of the game also gives him a chance, so I think things will go in a very positive direction. Also, even if he becomes popular so suddenly, he doesn't change his attitude, so with that personality, I think he'll be fine.
--In a previous interview, you said that you liked Marcus Smart, and that from there you also liked the Boston Celtics, the team that Smart was playing for at the time. Kawamura joined the Grizzlies with Smart.
Hara: At an event before Kawamura went to the US, I told him, "I really like Marcus Smart, so tell me what kind of person he is" (laughs). I'll ask him a bit when he comes back to Japan. I'm jealous.
--Kawamura was the first player to go to the NBA after playing in the B.League. With a player you watched up close going to the NBA, did you feel that the NBA felt closer to you, Hara, or the other players playing in the B.League?
Hara: The NBA is an amazing place, not so much close as it is far away. However, I think Kawamura paved the way for him by going from the B.League. Kawamura gained experience in the B.League, did well, and achieved results. This gave him the chance to go to the NBA, and he knew that the NBA was watching him, so he developed a desire to do even more in the B.League.
If the B.League gets more popular, NBA scouts may start to take notice. This is also the case with Trevor Gleason, head coach of the Chiba Jets I play for (former assistant coach of the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks), but I think it's a good change to be able to learn what the NBA is like by listening to people who come to the B.League from the NBA. Head Coach Gleason tells me, "In the NBA, this is the number we aim for in transitions," and when shooting, he tells me, "This is how it is in the NBA, so I want you to do it with more intensity."
--This year, Yuta Watanabe, who played in the NBA for six years until last season, joined the Chiba Jets.
Hara: I sometimes casually ask him things like, "What are those NBA players like?" When I asked Yuta about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, "How can he score so many points even though he looks so skinny when you watch him (through the screen)?" he told me, "In reality, he's incredibly strong." He said, "Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns) also looks skinny, but his forearm strength is so incredible that a high five hurts," and I realized that NBA players really work on building their bodies.
--With Hachimura and Kawamura playing in the NBA, I'm sure there are many fans who were not familiar with the NBA before who are now interested in it. How would you convey the appeal of the NBA to such fans?
Hara: Although the tempo of the B League games is getting faster and faster, I think the speed of the NBA's offense and the speed of the game development are very enjoyable to watch. Also, the skills of the players, and because it is the world's top league, I think the good points are that they are highly capable and the plays are very flashy and fun to watch. I also like looking at the fashion of NBA players, and they seem to have very stylish private clothes and stylists, so I think that's another way to enjoy it.
--It's not been that long since the season started, but what teams are you paying attention to this season?
Hara: I like the Boston Celtics, so naturally Boston is the first team I would mention. Aside from that, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been doing really well this year, so I'm paying attention to them. Also, like Smart, he's not that tall, but I'm also interested in the New York Knicks, who have Jalen Brunson, who plays rough, not passing opponents with brilliance, but almost charging in. Karl-Anthony Towns was traded to the Knicks from the Minnesota Timberwolves, so I hope he does well and is rewarded.
There are a lot of good teams in the West, so it's difficult. The Spurs, who I mentioned earlier, are interesting, and so are the Golden State Warriors. I really like Buddy Hield of the Warriors, and he's a great fit, so it's interesting.
--Please also predict which teams will win the East and West.
Hara: In the East, it's the Celtics. Their rivals are the Knicks and the Cavaliers. To be honest, I don't know what will happen, but how far the 76ers and Bucks will come back? They're in a slump right now, but it's exciting. In the West, it's the Thunder, but is that too safe? (laughs) I'd also like to include the Lakers if there are no injuries. And then of course the Nuggets. Actually, my teammates and I are predicting the rankings together. In my opinion, the West is the Thunder, Nuggets, and Suns, and the East is the Celtics, Knicks, and Cavaliers.
--The Lakers and Nuggets, the two noteworthy teams in the West that you mentioned today, will face off on the 24th, and WOWOW will be broadcasting the match live. Lastly, what are some highlights of this match?
Hara: The Lakers have a really hard time against the Nuggets. They were upset by a 20-point deficit in last season's playoffs and lost. I think they really don't get along. The Lakers also have a lot of injuries on the inside, so I'm curious to see who will be playing for Jokic. I think Davis will be playing for them, but what will happen if he gets into foul trouble? Hachimura has been good at guarding Jokic so far, hasn't he? So I'm looking forward to seeing how he will play when he's in charge.
The Nuggets are also keeping an eye on Westbrook. He's been in good form since he became a starter recently, and I feel like he accepted his position when he was with the Clippers and is quickly becoming a role player. A team with players who understand their roles like that is a strong one.
* "Nuggets vs. Lakers with Rui Hachimura set to play" will be broadcast live on WOWOW Live and WOWOW On Demand from 12:30 a.m. on November 23rd.
