Up-and-coming guard Masahiro Waki has started every game for the Ryukyu Golden Kings this season, helping the team collect 11 wins in its first 14 games.
Ryukyu Golden Kings

Ryukyu Golden Kings shooting guard Masahiro Waki in action against the Saga Ballooners in the first quarter on November 11 in Saga. (©B.LEAGUE)

Read the full story on SportsLook - For Ryukyu Golden Kings, Masahiro Waki Proving to Be a Good Choice for Starting Lineup

In his first season as a full-time pro basketball player, Masahiro Waki has emerged as a key contributor for the title-chasing Ryukyu Golden Kings.

The 22-year-old shooting guard has started all 14 games for the Golden Kings (11-3), who are tied for the best record in the B.League's Western Conference with the Shimane Susanoo Magic

Waki has given the team a spark while proving to be a good fit for the Golden Kings' starting lineup, helping the squad win seven consecutive games. 

In the Golden Kings' two-game sweep of the Saga Ballooners on Monday and Tuesday, November 11 and 12, Waki contributed 13 points in the series opener (84-72) and added 10 in a 73-67 triumph the next day in Saga.

He's averaging 8.6 points per game, the sixth-highest scoring average on the team behind Vic Law (15.3), newcomer Keve Aluma (12.8), Ryuichi Kishimoto (12.1), Jack Cooley (11.9) and Alex Kirk (9.8).

Ryukyu Golden Kings
Veteran forward Vic Law leads the Golden Kings in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game. (B.LEAGUE)

During the win streak, Waki scored a season-high 17 points against the Hiroshima Dragonflies on October 27 in the Golden Kings' 88-68 home triumph at Okinawa Arena.

"As an individual, I feel that I am gradually becoming able to play the way I want to play," Waki told reporters after the game. "My teammates believed in me and passed the ball to me, so I took responsibility for my shots and was able to set a new career high in points. I will continue to further hone my skills and contribute to the team."

Waki has also had 10-, 13- (twice) and 14-point performances this season.

Ryukyu Golden Kings
Masahiro Waki defends Koshigaya Alphas point guard Ryoma Hashimoto on October 12 in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture. (B.LEAGUE)

Maximizing His Playing Time for the Ryukyu Golden Kings

The 193-cm Kumamoto Prefecture native is averaging 22-plus minutes per game and making his presence felt with hustle plays at both ends of the floor. For instance, he had a game-high five steals, three offensive rebounds and three assists in 27:32 against the Ballooners on Tuesday. And he's had at least one steal in six consecutive games.

Ryukyu is the league's second-highest scoring team (87.0 points per game) and No 1 in rebounding (43.1 per game), facets of the game in which youthful vigor can bolster a team.

Waki attended Hakuoh University and was a dynamic college player. He also gained experience at the pro game while appearing in a combined nine games for the Ibaraki Robots and Golden Kings in the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons as a special designation player.

Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.

RELATED:

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) @ed_odeven

Leave a Reply