Japan has a bevy of naturalized players at its disposal.
In this cycle alone, the Akatsuki rotated Luke Evans, Nick Fazekas, and Josh Hawkinson at that position during the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
Though Evans played the most games and Nick Fazekas had the NBA pedigree, it was Hawkinson, who only played two games in the cycle, who got the nod.
Against Germany on opening day, Hawkinson, who went undrafted in the NBA and only played professionally in Japan for the last six years, only got nine points and 10 rebounds.
He wasn’t worth the gamble right? Well, the 6-foot-10 Seattle, Washington-born big man proved everyone wrong.
Going up against the giants of Finland, Hawkinson, who had just transferred from Shinshu to Shibuya two months ago, more than held his own, finishing with a monster statline of 28 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and 19 rebounds, leading Japan to a historic 98-88 win — the first for any Asian country in the ongoing global showpiece.
(C) FIBA.basketball
“He was a beast. Unbelievable,” were the only words uttered by Japan head coach Tom Hovasse.
Hovasse disclosed that it was Hawkinson’s high basketball IQ that made him decide to pick him for the naturalized slot.
“He’s a very smart player. He plays angles really well and he can rebound in traffic. That’s something that Japan hasn’t really had in a long time, a guy that just can rebound with the rest of the bigs in the world,” said Hovasse about Hawkinson, who is a product of Washington State and made by All-Pac 12 second team in 2017.
“Having him is amazing.”
Hawkinson though has one more trick up his sleeve.
And he plans to show it during the Akatsuki’s do-or-die game against Australia on Tuesday.
“He can shoot (the three) too. He just hasn’t done it yet so I’m waiting for that to happen,” quipped Hovasse.
