Rui Hachimura’s Special Treatment at Paris Olympics Confounds Officials

Rui Yamura, 26, ace of the men’s national basketball team that lost three straight games at the Paris Olympics and failed to qualify, left the team on August 2 with a left calf injury.

‘The injury is believed to have occurred in the second qualifying game against France on July 30. In that game, Yamura scored 24 points but was ejected for a questionable decision. The departure of ace Hachimura is a major blow, but it is almost a miracle that Hachimura was able to participate in the Olympics in the first place.

Unlike LeBron James (39) and Anthony Davis (31), who are representing the United States at the Olympics from their Lakers team, Yamura has not established himself as a steadfast regular on the team. He was originally favored to miss the Olympics in favor of the season. The team suffered three consecutive losses and failed to qualify, and Hachimura played in only two games, but we would like to thank him for carrying the flag of the rising sun,” said a member of the Japan Basketball Association.

To begin with, it was unprecedented for an active NBA player to play for the Japanese national team. Therefore, neither the Japan National Team nor the Basketball Association knew how to treat the star player.

Yamura did not attend the pep rally on July 3, before the start of the Olympics, because he was not in good condition. However, the basketball association thought that he was going to attend the pep rally, and issued a huge press release. Furthermore, Yamura also missed the training games on July 5 and 7, citing poor conditions. The media, which was scheduled to report on the triumphant return of Japan’s greatest treasure, was thrown into confusion. However, this was not Yamura’s fault, but rather a mismanagement between him, the association, and the Japanese national team. It was unfortunate that the media was so angry with Yamura for this.

Even after the opening of the Olympics, association officials were still struggling with how to “handle” Yamura.

Before the opening of the Olympics, Hachimura had instructed Akatsuki Japan’s tour conductor through the association to arrange a hotel for more than 10 people, including acquaintances and relatives, to stay at the hotel. However, the tour conductor had his hands full planning the transportation and accommodations for the entire Japan team to complete the entire itinerary without trouble. In addition, we had to make arrangements for Hachimura, so it was a very hectic time for us. In the end, we succeeded in booking the accommodations that Hachimura requested, but he seemed exhausted.

The “special treatment” of Yamura continued.

After the game against France, he did not appear in the mixed zone for interviews. Athletes competing in the Olympics are required to be interviewed in the mixed zone regardless of the outcome of the games. Even the judo athlete Abe Uta (24), who was in tears after his unexpected defeat, was available for interviews. However, Yamura waited and waited, but never showed up. Instead, a representative from Wasserman, the major U.S. firm in charge of Hachimura’s management, showed up.

‘Louis won’t answer today. ‘Come on, it’s over. Ask the other players. The reporters, who didn’t understand English or French, said, ‘Why isn’t Hachimura coming out?　This is not going to happen just because he is a star,’ they said angrily. They may have been concerned about Yamura’s possible injury, but once again he bore the brunt of their anger.

Even though he had to withdraw from the event, Yamura decided to participate in the Olympics, taking the risk that it would affect his season. It is a pity that his VIP treatment by those around him led to such unexpected results.