Dai Oketani, who recently took over as the head coach of the Japanese men's basketball team, expressed his ambition to build a team capable of winning at the Olympics. During a press conference held in Chiba City on the 13th, Oketani set a goal of securing Japan's first Olympic victory since the 1972 Munich Games. His appointment comes after the Japanese Basketball Association announced the end of Tom Hovasse's contract due to differing directions between the two parties. Oketani, who had previously led Okinawa to their first B1 championship in 2023, was surprised yet honored to accept the role, considering it a significant opportunity.