Author Photo
Yuta Watanabe, Rui Hachimura
(FIBA)

Japan has become a crucial part of basketball's global expansion in the 21st century, and this summer it serves as one of the 12 countries and territories to compete for gold in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

It won't be an easy ride for Japan — Yuta Watanabe, Rui Hachimura and company sit in a tough Group B that includes 2023 FIBA World Cup champion Germany, a France team that features Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert and a scrappy Brazil team.

Team USA enters the Olympic basketball tournament a whopping -650 favorite on BetMGM, while Canada (+1000), France (+1100), Serbia (+1400), and Greece (+2200) round out the top five to win it all. Japan's current odds to win gold are a +25000 long shot. 

Still, anything can happen in international hoops, and Japan has plenty of above-average talent ready to show out and make its natives proud. 

MORE: Watch the 2024 Olympics with Fubo (7-day free trial)

The Sporting News has everything you need to know about Team Japan and how to watch its quest for international glory including its full schedule, TV broadcast coverage, full roster and coaching staff.

Japan Basketball Schedule 2024

The opening ceremony at the 2024 Olympics is Friday, July 26. The men's basketball tournament tips off on July 27 and ends with the medal games on Aug. 10.

Japan is one of 12 teams to qualify for the Paris Olympics. It will be playing in Group B, which includes France, Germany, and Japan.

DateGameTime (ET)TV channel
July 27Japan vs. Germany  7:30 p.m.Peacock
July 30Japan vs. France11 a.m.Peacock
Aug. 2Japan vs. Brazil5 p.m.Peacock
Aug. 6Men's Quarterfinals*TBDUSA, E!, Peacock, Fubo
Aug. 8Men's Semifinals*TBDUSA, Peacock, Fubo
Aug. 10 Men's medal games*TBDNBC, USA, Fubo

*if qualified

How to watch Olympic basketball games

  • TV channels: NBC | USA | E! | CNBC
  • Live streams: Fubo, Peacock, NBCOlympics.com

All of Japan's three games during the group phase will air live exclusively on Peacock. Select Olympic basketball games from Group B including Japan vs. Germany will re-air in primetime on USA.

Olympic men's 5-on-5 basketball competition will air on an array of television networks, including NBC, CNBC, E!, and USA.

Those games can also be streamed on Fubo, your streaming home for the Olympics. Fubo offers a free trial, so you can try before you buy.

Japan Olympic men's basketball roster

No. PlayerPos. Team/Club 
8Rui HachimuraPFLos Angeles Lakers (NBA)
12Yuta WatanabeSFChiba Jets (Japan)
2Yuki Togashi (C) PGChiba Jets (Japan)
4Akira JacobsSFUniversity of Hawaii
5Yuki KawamuraPGYokohama B-Corsairs (Japan) 
6Makoto HiejimaSGUtsunomiya Brex (Japan)
7Kai ToewsPGNagasaki Velca (Japan)
24Josh HawkinsonF/CSun Rockers Shibuya (Japan)
30Keisei TominagaSGIndiana Pacers (NBA)
34Hugh WatanabeCRyukyu Golden Kings (Japan)
91Hirotaka YoshiiSFAlvark Tokyo (Japan)
18Yudai BabaSFNagasaki Velca (Japan)

Japan Olympic men's basketball coaching staff

Name Position
Tom HovasseHead coach
Corey GainesAssistant coach
Geoffrey KatsuhisaAssistant coach
Yoshio SasaAssistant coach

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Author(s)
Sloan Piva Photo

Sloan Piva is a content producer for The Sporting News, primarily focused on betting, fantasy sports, and poker. A lifelong New Englander, Sloan earned his BA and MA in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts and now lives in coastal Rhode Island with his wife and two kids.