Pacific Rims

New Sunrockers head coach Shawn Dennis joins Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt to celebrate Japan’s remarkable basketball transformation and explain how the B.League can become even better.Dennis discusses the league’s surging popularity, improved talent and coaching, why Japan needs to rethink player development, and how new B.Premier import rules could accelerate growth. Plus, his plans to revive Tokyo’s Sunrockers, managing Josh Hawkinson’s workload and why he considers the B.League one of the world’s top professional basketball leagues.00:00 – Shawn Dennis joins Pacific Rims 01:24 – Japan's remarkable basketball transformation 04:17 – Dennis's faster, more aggressive coaching philosophy 07:00 – Rebuilding the Sunrockers and empowering players 10:51 – What Japan must learn from Australian basketball 13:24 – Foreign coaches and the B.League's global standing 17:01 – B.Premier import rules and player development 20:30 – Balancing winning with opportunities for Japanese players 23:26 – Recruiting imports and defining their roles 26:20 – Managing Josh Hawkinson's workload 27:36 – Why Dennis left Nagoya for Tokyo 30:00 – Life in Japan and the move to Tokyo 31:26 – What Dennis would change as B.League commissioner 33:17 – Final thoughts and sign-off#PacificRims #ShawnDennis #BLeague #JapanBasketball #Sunrockers #AsianBasketball

Fukushima Firebonds head coach Ryan Marchand joins Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt to explain how leaving the U.S. accelerated his coaching career — taking him from the G League and NBA to head-coaching jobs in Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan.Marchand details how COVID changed his career path, what he learned coaching Jeremy Lin and winning back-to-back championships in Taiwan, and how he rebuilt a last-place Fukushima team into a finalist.He also breaks down the challenges of coaching across cultures, why head coaching overseas provides experience assistants rarely get in the NBA, and his ultimate goals: becoming an NBA and Team USA head coach.TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Welcome and Ryan Marchand’s journey03:05 – Leaving the U.S. coaching path for Asia06:01 – Expansion teams, mentors and adapting overseas09:32 – Taiwan vs. Japan: marketing Asian basketball12:02 – Why head coaching is about far more than basketball15:04 – Vietnam, COVID and becoming a better teacher17:00 – Coaching Jeremy Lin and winning in Taiwan19:20 – Taking over last-place Fukushima22:17 – Japan’s grueling back-to-back schedule25:14 – Why Marchand chose a rebuilding challenge27:01 – Sustaining success and building culture30:07 – Life in Taiwan and Japan32:27 – Marchand’s NBA and Team USA ambitions35:28 – The realities of pursuing an NBA coaching job36:27 – Closing#PacificRims #RyanMarchand #JeremyLin #FukushimaFirebonds #BLeague #JapanBasketball #AsianBasketball #NBA

Former Washington Wizards assistant Ryan Richman joins Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt to explain why he left the NBA to coach in Japan and how his experience with Alvark Tokyo and Japan's national team is shaping his pursuit of an NBA head-coaching job. Richman discusses Rui Hachimura's evolution, Japan's basketball boom, the B.League's changing rules, and the differences between NBA and FIBA basketball. Plus, why team chemistry and coaching creativity matter more than ever in an analytics-driven game.00:00 – Introducing Ryan Richman02:09 – Why Richman Left the NBA for Japan04:04 – NBA vs. FIBA Basketball07:01 – Japan's Basketball Boom09:40 – Rui Hachimura's Evolution10:28 – Coaching Japan's National Team14:17 – B.League Rule Changes and Import Players15:49 – Transforming the Seahorses Mikawa18:23 – Life in Japan19:49 – Richman's Coaching Philosophy21:14 – Advice for American Coaches23:25 – The Global Future of Basketball24:34 – NBA Stars Training in Tokyo26:37 – Analytics vs. the Human Element28:02 – Jalen Brunson and the Midrange Game30:04 – Final Thoughts and Closing#PacificRims #NBA #RyanRichman #JapanBasketball #BLeague #RuiHachimura #FIBA

Asian college basketball is about to get much bigger — and Pacific Rims has the news first.AUBL co-founder and CEO Jay Li joins Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt and reveals that the Asian University Basketball League is expanding to 18 teams for its first full home-and-away season beginning in November — with an ambitious plan to reach 30 teams next season and ultimately create an NCAA-style college basketball ecosystem across Asia.Li, the former chief of staff to Yao Ming during his tenure running the Chinese Basketball Association, explains how lessons learned from the NBA and CBA are being applied to a league whose social-media engagement has exploded by as much as 10X, while revenue has doubled and live viewership has surged.The conversation also explores why college basketball historically struggled to become part of Asia’s professional pipeline, how Yao helped change that equation in China, and why attitudes toward combining education and elite basketball have shifted.Then there’s the Cinderella story that showed exactly what the AUBL could become: Shanghai Jiao Tong University stunning traditional powers, beating teams it had never defeated before and producing a championship run Li compares in excitement to Linsanity.Can the AUBL create the school loyalty, packed arenas, rivalries and postseason drama that have made American college basketball a phenomenon? Li lays out a vision featuring multiple conferences, regional tournaments, a championship week and a legitimate pathway for Asian prospects from high school to college, the NCAA and professional basketball around the world.TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Welcome to Pacific Rims00:51 – Jay Li joins Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt01:43 – How the AUBL grew from an experiment into a league02:13 – EXCLUSIVE: AUBL expands to 18 teams03:08 – Preparing for the first home-and-away season04:31 – What Jay learned from the NBA and CBA06:34 – Who is the AUBL trying to reach?08:11 – AUBL’s explosive growth: engagement, revenue and viewership10:09 – Why Asian college basketball was historically overlooked12:09 – Connecting college basketball to Asia’s pro leagues13:50 – How the Asian basketball development system has evolved15:35 – Education vs. turning pro: changing attitudes in Asia16:33 – China’s traditional junior-team development system17:08 – How Yao Ming helped change China’s basketball pipeline18:20 – Why Chinese families increasingly value education19:29 – Is Shanghai now China’s basketball capital?21:06 – Shanghai Jiao Tong’s stunning Cinderella story22:20 – The buzzer-beater and championship run nobody expected23:34 – Creating an American-style college basketball atmosphere24:27 – Competitive balance and the uncertainty that makes sports work27:13 – When Jay realized the AUBL concept could really succeed28:40 – The challenge of going from tournaments to home-and-away games30:07 – Building campus basketball culture across Asia30:42 – Why relationships with universities and federations matter31:16 – Taking AUBL games to Seoul, Tokyo, Manila and beyond31:44 – Jay Li reveals the AUBL’s grand vision32:07 – 18 teams now — 30 teams next season32:19 – Could the AUBL become Asia’s NCAA basketball system?33:14 – Building a pathway from Asian high schools to college and the pros33:41 – How long will the full vision take?34:01 – Final thoughts and what’s next for Pacific Rims#PacificRims #AUBL #AsianBasketball #CollegeBasketball #YaoMing #ChinaBasketball #CBABasketball #NCAA #ShanghaiJiaoTong #JapanBasketball #KoreaBasketball #PhilippinesBasketball

Golden State Valkyries development player Miela Sowah joins Ric Bucher for an inspiring conversation about the perseverance, preparation and personal relationships behind her journey from Australian basketball to the WNBA.Sowah explains how Australia’s development system shaped her into an all-around player, why a coach’s challenge transformed her from a rim-attacking guard into a dangerous three-point shooter, and how four years at Duke prepared her for professional basketball—even though she went undrafted.She also shares what it means to join the same Golden State organization as Steph Curry, why the Valkyries’ “Ballhalla” atmosphere is unlike anything she has experienced, and how she stays prepared and contributes while waiting for her opportunity on the court.The conversation explores the differences between the WNBA, NCAA and Australia’s WNBL; the growing influence of NIL on Australian prospects; Townsville Fire’s championship outlook; and the emotional moment Sowah finally received her WNBA opportunity after pursuing the dream since age 14.Plus, Sowah reveals how her husband Josh went from volunteer rebounder to life partner—and how her sister and father ended up competing on Australian Survivor: Blood V Water.TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Welcome to Pacific Rims00:53 – Ric Bucher introduces Golden State Valkyries guard Miela Sowah01:34 – Developing as a women’s basketball player in Australia03:27 – Australia’s emphasis on versatile, team-oriented players04:00 – How Sowah’s older sister introduced her to basketball04:31 – The coaching challenge that turned her into a three-point shooter05:22 – Rebuilding her shooting form and developing deeper range06:04 – Ric’s Steph Curry story and his daughter’s basketball journey07:21 – Why joining Golden State carried extra meaning for Sowah08:14 – Going undrafted after Duke and rebuilding her confidence09:09 – The coaches and mentors who kept her WNBA dream alive09:56 – Sowah’s shooting reset when her jumper feels wrong10:37 – Adjusting from Australian basketball culture to the United States11:23 – What Sowah misses about Australia—and loves about the Bay Area12:03 – Why the Valkyries’ Ballhalla atmosphere feels so special13:16 – Comparing the WNBA, NCAA and WNBL styles of play14:08 – Australian basketball connections around the world15:34 – Staying positive while waiting for her chance to play17:09 – How Sowah studies games and contributes from the bench18:06 – NIL’s impact on Australian women’s basketball prospects19:33 – Townsville Fire’s WNBL title defense and biggest challengers20:21 – Receiving the offer that finally made her WNBA dream real21:44 – Overcoming the disappointment of going undrafted23:44 – Sharing the life-changing news with her family24:25 – How a volunteer rebounder became Sowah’s husband25:25 – The slow-burn romance between Miela and Josh26:14 – Evaluating Josh’s rebounding and passing skills27:16 – Returning to the gym together for workouts and one-on-one28:04 – How Sowah’s family landed on Australian Survivor29:53 – Her father carrying on her sister’s Survivor dream30:13 – Final thoughts and farewell30:46 – Pacific Rims closing remarks#MielaSowah #GoldenStateValkyries #WNBA #PacificRims #RicBucher #WomensBasketball #AustralianBasketball #WNBL #TownsvilleFire #DukeBasketball #Ballhalla

Australian coaching veteran Guy Molloy joins Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt for a fascinating look at his first month inside the Chinese Basketball Association as an assistant coach with the Jilin Tigers.Molloy explains why the Tigers' partnership with first-year head coach Enzo Li represents a dramatic departure from traditional Chinese basketball culture, how they're creating a player-centered environment built on development and enjoyment, and why he believes the franchise can become one of the CBA's most intriguing success stories.The conversation also explores the growing influence of Australian coaches throughout Asia, the state of the WNBL, the impact of NIL and WNBA salaries on international women's basketball, China's emergence as a talent source for Australia, and the evolving balance of power in Pacific Rim basketball.Plus, Greg provides updates on Team China, the B.League's transition to B.Premier, and preparations for the inaugural AUBL season.TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Introduction: Guy Molloy joins Pacific Rims00:50 – Taking the assistant coaching role with the Jilin Tigers01:40 – First impressions of coaching in China03:00 – Life without a players' association and two-a-day practices04:20 – Building enjoyable but demanding training sessions05:15 – Adapting to Chinese basketball culture06:20 – Advice from legendary Australian coach Brian Goorjian08:25 – Why Australian coaches are thriving overseas10:20 – What makes Enzo Li different from traditional Chinese coaches12:45 – Can a modern NBA-inspired coaching style succeed in the CBA?15:05 – Balancing player development and accountability16:00 – The importance of Jilin's youth development pipeline17:40 – Transition to women's basketball discussion18:05 – State of the WNBL and Australian women's basketball19:30 – How NIL and the WNBA are changing global talent movement22:00 – Chinese players entering the WNBL23:10 – Expectations for the Australian Opals24:05 – Australia, China and Japan as Asia-Pacific powers25:20 – Preparing for vastly different international opponents27:00 – Guy Molloy's international coaching experiences27:40 – Northeast China food adventures29:20 – Can the Jilin Tigers become a CBA success story?31:00 – Northeast China as a basketball talent hotbed32:50 – Building a sustainable winning culture in Jilin34:00 – B.League's transition to B.Premier34:50 – Team China and upcoming international competition35:40 – AUBL tournament and league updates37:40 – Pacific Rims offseason programming notes#PacificRims #GuyMolloy #ChineseBasketball #CBA #JilinTigers #EnzoLi #AustralianBasketball #WNBL #TeamChina #BLeague #APACBasketball #InternationalBasketball #BasketballPodcast #RicBucher #GregStolt