GAME NOTES: GROUP B — Ryukyu Golden Kings (2-0) vs. Busan KCC Egis (0-2)

Written by EASL

Tyler Schiff

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Ryukyu seeks to extend undefeated record against struggling Busan KCC

December 4, 2024 — Okinawa Arena

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Storylines:

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Busan’s Back In Business

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For the first time this East Asia Super League (EASL) season, Busan KCC has weathered the injury bug and is slated to return two starters. Forwards Choi Jun Yong (ankle) and Song Kyo Chang (left hand) will likely feature in the Egis’ third EASL outing against Ryukyu.

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With Choi and Song sidelined for most of the 2024-25 season, KCC’s frontcourt has struggled with a noticeable lack of depth. This weakness has been evident in their 0-2 record in the EASL. Domestically, the Egis are 5-6 in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), currently sitting in 5th place in the regular season standings.

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To maintain a presence in the paint, the team signed KBL veteran Leon Williams on Oct. 15. Williams has impressed so far, averaging 15 points and 14.5 rebounds in EASL play. However, the team faces a major challenge: there’s no one to back him up. At 38-years-old, Williams is also logging heavy minutes, averaging 36 per game.

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KCC faces a tough challenge against Ryukyu's standout frontcourt trio of Jack Cooley, Alex Kirk, and Keve Aluma. However, with the support of Choi and Song alongside Williams, their chances improve considerably.

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Golden Kings Continue To Chase Perfection

The Golden Kings are 2-0 this season after just as many games. In their inaugural EASL campaign in 2023-24, Ryukyu mustered just three wins and missed the Final Four.

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On Dec. 4, against Busan KCC, Ryukyu has a chance to secure its third straight victory and equal its win total from the 2023-24 EASL season. Despite being tested in their first two games — narrowly defeating the Meralco Bolts and Macau Black Bears by a combined margin of just six points — the Golden Kings have maintained a surprising sense of control as the 2024-25 campaign approaches its midway point.

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From Aluma and Cooley to star guard Ryuichi Kishimoto and versatile forward Vic Law, the 2022-23 B. LEAGUE champions are stacked with talent. Offensively, Ryukyu dominates in the paint and consistently finds high-quality shots. Defensively, the Golden Kings are relentless, seamlessly adjusting between disciplined half-court sets and aggressive full-court presses whenever necessary.

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In addition to making franchise history, Ryukyu is also eyeing EASL history. A win over KCC would put the team halfway to a perfect 6-0 season — a rare feat achieved only once before. The Chiba Jets, another B.LEAGUE team, accomplished this during the 2023-24 season, ultimately capping it off with a championship victory. Can the Golden Kings do the same?

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Ryukyu’s Shooting Woes

Ryukyu's Hayate Arakawa steadies himself for a shot attempt in the Golden Kings' contest against the Macau Black Bears on Oct. 30. In that game, Ryukyu shot just 37% from 3 on 27 attempts.

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Ryukyu has been tough to criticize this season. Under long-time head coach Dai Oketani, the team plays a commendable brand of basketball, emphasizing teamwork and consistently preventing significant scoring runs by opponents. However, one notable weakness for the Golden Kings has been their 3-point shooting, with the team averaging a modest 33.5% from beyond the arc.

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It’s not that Ryukyu lacks capable shooters. Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki, Shota Onodera, and Masahiro Waki are all excellent catch-and-shoot marksmen. Additionally, if Kishimoto can’t find them for open looks, he’s more than capable of creating his own shot off the dribble. However, this hasn’t translated effectively on the court and the issue isn’t limited to EASL play either. Domestically, the Golden Kings are shooting just 31% from three-point range despite attempting nearly 28 threes per game.

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While most of Ryukyu's success comes in the paint, where they’re shooting an impressive 48%, relying too heavily on a shot that isn’t consistently falling could backfire. If they continue relying on errant 3-point shooting, the missed attempts may eventually catch up with them.

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Ryukyu Golden Kings’ Players To Watch:

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#45 Jack Cooley — Center, 6-foot-10

2024-25 EASL Averages: 21 points, 13 rebounds, 1.5 assists
2024-25 B.LEAGUE Season Averages: 11.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists
2022-23 B.LEAGUE Champion
Joined the Ryukyu Golden Kings in 2019
2019 FIBA Europe Cup Champion with Dinamo Sassari (ITA)
2012 Second-Team All-Big East with Notre Dame
2012 Big East Most Improved Player with Notre Dame
Cooley spent time with the Utah Jazz (2015) and the Sacramento Kings (2017-18) after going undrafted in 2013.
Cooley attended college at the University of Notre Dame (2009-2013)
Cooley is from Evanston, Illinois, USA.

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#18 Masahiro Waki — Forward, 6-foot-4

2024-25 EASL Averages: 5.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2 assists
2024-25 B.LEAGUE Season Averages: 8.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Joined the Ryukyu Golden Kings in 2023
Previously played for the B.LEAGUE’s Ibaraki Robots (2021-22)
2-time All-Japan University Basketball Champion (2021, 2023)
Waki attended Hakuoh University
Waki is from Kumamoto, Japan

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#4 Vic Law — Forward, 6-foot-6

2024-25 EASL Averages: 18 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists
2024-25 B.LEAGUE Averages: 15.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists
Joined the Ryukyu Golden Kings in 2023-24
Played for the B.LEAGUE’s Chiba Jets during the 2022-23 season
2022 All-NBL (AUS, NZL) First Team
2020 All-NBA G-League Third Team
2017 Big-Ten All-Defensive Team with Northwestern University
Law spent time with the Orlando Magic (2020) after going undrafted in 2019
Law attended college at Northwestern (2014-2019)
Law is from Chicago, Illinois, USA.

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Busan KCC Egis’ Players To Watch:

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#2 Choi Jun Yong — Forward, 6-feet-6

2024-25 EASL Season Averages: Choi is scheduled to make his EASL debut against the Ryukyu Golden Kings on Dec. 4
2024-25 KBL Season Averages: 10.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists
3x KBL Champion (2018, 2022, 2024)
Choi joined the Busan KCC Egis in 2023
2022 KBL MVP
2018 Asian Games Bronze Medalist
2017 FIBA Asia Cup Bronze Medalist
Choi played for the Seoul SK Knights (2016-2023)
Choi was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 KBL Draft
Choi attended Yonsei University
Choi is from Daegu, South Korea

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#55 Song Kyo Chang — Forward, 6-feet-5

2024-25 EASL Season Averages: Song is scheduled to make his EASL debut against the Ryukyu Golden Kings on Dec. 4
2024-25 KBL Season Averages: 4.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists
2023-24 KBL Champion
2021 KBL MVP
2021 KBL Regular Season Champion
2-time KBL Best 5 (2020, 2021)
2018 KBL Defensive Best 5
2017 KBL Most Improved Player Award
Song joined the Busan KCC Egis in 2015
Song was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 KBL Draft
Song is from Yongin, South Korea

#15 Deonte Burton — Forward, 6-foot-4

2024-25 EASL Averages: 30.5 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists
2024-25 KBL Season Averages: 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists
Burton joined KCC in 2024
Burton spent time in the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2018-2020) and the Sacramento Kings (2023)
2018 KBL Foreign MVP
Burton began his professional career with the KBL’s Wonju DB Promy
Burton went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft
2017 Second-Team All-Big 12
2016 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year
2014 Big East All-Rookie Team
Burton attended Marquette (2013-2015) and Iowa State (2015-2017)
Burton is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

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Ryukyu By The Numbers:

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Team History