The Ryukyu Golden Kings, who are aiming to “reclaim their title as number one in Japan,” have welcomed back their legendary coach, Yoshihiro Sasaki, who led the team to its first Western Division victory, as associate head coach.

What kind of Kings will they create this season, together with head coach Okeya Dai, who brought Okinawa its first B.League championship trophy in the 2022-23 season?
The two legendary coaches, who are teaming up for the first time, gave an exclusive interview.

Expectations for Coach Sasa: ​​”The ability to bring out the best in players and develop them”

Okinawa Television Announcer Rin Uekusa:　
How do you feel about the time you’ve spent coaching together thus far?

Associate Head Coach Yoshihiro Sasa:

It’s really hard to do

Head coach Okeya Dai:

Hey! Lol

Associate Head Coach Yoshihiro Sasa:

I think it would be weird to say that I’m really good, so I’m trying to communicate as much as possible with Head Coach Okeya and learn what kind of basketball he wants to play every day.

Images in this article (11 images)

Coach Yoshihiro Sasa returned to the Kings for the first time in five years since 2019. He served as head coach of the Utsunomiya Brex until last season, and had a record of 51 wins and 9 losses in the 2023-24 season. He led the team to victory in the Eastern Division with the highest winning percentage in the B League.

Associate Head Coach Yoshihiro Sasa:

I want my players to shine the brightest. I think I have to make the most of each player’s unique qualities. There’s no point in killing them by playing the basketball I want to play.

Head coach Okeya Dai:

That’s right! If you don’t make the most of your players, the team won’t be able to show its strengths. If the players’ strengths aren’t shown in the first place, the team won’t be strong.

The new season will see the departure of key players who were the core of the team’s offense, and younger players will be expected to step up.

Head coach Okeya has high expectations for coach Sasa’s ability to bring out the best in the players and “develop them”

Head coach Okeya Dai:

Both Yoshiya Uematsu and Hayato Arakawa are watching over them. The two of them are relaxed, but maybe it’s just the difference between being relaxed and not. They are growing up so quickly.
I have told Coach Sasa that I want to develop this player. I want Masahiro Waki ​​to join the national team.

Associate Head Coach Yoshihiro Sasa:

It’s fun now. I’m doing it too.

What I do is the same whether I’m with the national team or the Kings

At the Paris Olympics in the summer, NBA player Rui Hachimura participated, and Coach Sasa competed against the world as an assistant coach for the Japanese national team, which was described as the “strongest in history.”

Associate Head Coach Yoshihiro Sasa:

The Olympics was an atmosphere of mutual respect and wanting to play a good game. I was able to play basketball in that atmosphere. So I think there were a lot of interesting games throughout the tournament, and it was special to be at the basketball venue and on the bench with that kind of feeling.

Coach Sasa said, “What I do is the same whether I’m with the national team or the Kings. Can I help the players? Can I help the head coach? That’s something I’ve always done.”

Head coach Okeya praised Coach Sasa, saying, “He speaks persuasively. Hearing him motivates the players. That’s what’s amazing.”

Although this is the first time they have been on the same team, the two are good friends and even exchange basketball opinions as coaches.

Associate Head Coach Yoshihiro Sasa:

When I was with the Kings, Okeya was the head coach of the Osaka Evessa, so we played against each other six times back then because we were in the same Western Division.
After the game, we went out to eat. He would ask me questions like, “What do you do with a team like that?” and I would ask him questions like, “What are you doing?” and we started talking about basketball.

A phone call right after a loss!? The surprising relationship between these two

Coach Okeya also shared some interesting information that gave us insight into the relationship between the two men.

Head coach Okeya Dai:

I guess I’m usually on the phone after I lose…

In the first game of the championship semi-finals last season, right after the team suffered a crushing defeat to the Chiba Jets, I called Coach Sasa.

Head coach Okeya Dai:

I called before going to the press conference.

Associate Head Coach Yoshihiro Sasa:

I wondered what you were doing. LOL

Head coach Okeya Dai:

I called you as soon as I got back to the locker room after losing the first game.

Associate Head Coach Yoshihiro Sasa:

At that time, it was about mental health. I felt depressed and I had to get my engine going for tomorrow. You often say to me, “I called you and cheered you up.” lol

Head coach Okeya Dai:

I’m getting energy

Associate Head Coach Yoshihiro Sasa:

What are you doing? I’m fine! Like that. lol

Although they clashed during games, the two have helped each other improve as head coaches.

Okinawa Television Announcer Rin Uekusa:

How have you viewed the Kings’ performance since you left the team?

Associate Head Coach Yoshihiro Sasa:

I guess they’ve gotten stronger since I’m gone…lol

Head coach Okeya Dai:

No, no, no. LOL
It’s just that the work of our predecessors has blossomed, and it’s not that we did anything special that year, but it was Coach Sasa who created the foundation of our defense, and he was the one who built it, so I want to work with him again this season.

The 2024-25 season will see the two legendary coaches who created Kings history teaming up for the first time.

Associate Head Coach Yoshihiro Sasa:

I want to help Oke-san. More than anything, I’ve returned to Okinawa Prefecture to join the Kings, and now that I have more experience than I did back then, I want to do something good for him.

Associate Head Coach Yoshihiro Sasa:

I want to go see this team again. I want to go and support this team even if they lose. I think it’s a culture that responds to those expectations.

Head coach Okeya Dai:

This year we will be going out to the world. The world famous Yoshihiro Sasa is also here, so we will be able to experience many things this year, and we will come together to make the Kings more attractive.

What kind of team will these two great coaches create? I can’t wait for the season to start!

(Okinawa Television)