[ODDS and EVENS] The Next Generation of Akatsuki Japan Backcourt Stars Has Arrived

Kawamura Impresses with a Stellar Passing Game Against Finland

In 36th-ranked Japan's 81-63 loss to Germany in the teams' first game at the Basketball World Cup on Friday, August 25, Kawamura had seven points on 2-for-12 shooting (2-for-9 on 3s) along with three assists and four turnovers. 

Kawamura didn't lose faith in his abilities after a frustrating individual (and team) performance. And his teammates, clearly, didn't lose faith in the 172-cm point guard to make important plays against Finland. You could see it in their body language and in eye-to-eye contact when Kawamura dribbled the ball, threaded passes through traffic and nailed spot-up or pull-up jumpers. 

The importance of Kawamura's nine assists without a turnover cannot be overstated. 

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