Hachimura: 'An honor' to be first Japanese player in playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Rui Hachimura made history Sunday afternoon as he became the first Japanese player to play in the NBA Playoffs. It’s an honor he doesn’t take lightly.
He scored 12 points and had five rebounds in 36 minutes on the floor in the Wizards’ loss to the 76ers in Game 1. Defensively, he struggled as Tobias Harris ended with 37 points to lead the 76ers in points.
"The first half, (Harris) just made every shot," coach Scott Brooks said postgame. "He's a tough guard. Rui's going to be better next game. But it wasn't just all Rui. We switched off on [Harris] and he was just [scoring] on everybody."
But for Hachimura, his debut was about a bit more than what he showed on the floor.
“It’s an honor to be in a position like that,” Hachimura said Monday. “I want more of those kids [in Japan] to be like that. It’s not only me. I hope there’s going to be a lot of kids that play in the NBA. I’m happy to help.”
Hachimura was born in Toyama, Japan and went to high school at Sendai University Meisei High School, which is located in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.
When Hachimura came to the United States, it was to join the Gonzaga Bulldogs. In the 2019 NBA Draft, the Wizards made him the first ever Japanese player taken in the first round.
Now, he’s got another notable accomplishment in his young career.
“It’s big for sure,” Hachimura said. “It’s actually easy to access, watching the NBA games and stuff. It’s good. Little by little, every year, making history. This is the type of stuff I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid. I’ve wanted to help this basketball culture in Japan and I think it’s going that way.”
