10 Teams In 10 Days: Ryukyu Golden Kings

Our East Asia Super League editorial staff breaks down the key storylines, players and statistics of each franchise as tip-off nears.

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Ryukyu Golden Kings

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The Ryukyu Golden Kings are one of just three teams competing in its second consecutive East Asia Super League (EASL) season. In 2023-24, the Kings went 3-3 in group stage play but did not progress to the Final Four.

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Since joining Japan’s B.LEAGUE in 2016-17, Ryukyu has made the playoffs every single year. After losing to the Chiba Jets in its first Finals appearance during the 2021-22 season, the Golden Kings bounced back to win the 2023 B.LEAGUE championship by defeating Chiba. Then, Ryukyu earned its third straight Finals berth this past season but finished runner-up to the Hiroshima Dragonflies.

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Here’s everything you need to know about the Ryukyu Golden Kings:

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3-pointers

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1. Aluma’s Addition

Keve Aluma, a former Wofford and Virginia Tech standout, officially signed with Ryukyu as an import player on June 19. The 6-foot-9 power forward spent a year each with B.LEAGUE side, the Niigata Albirex (2022-23), and Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus (2023-24), before joining the Golden Kings.

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At Ulsan, Aluma tallied 14 points a game on 56.4% shooting from the floor through 52 KBL games. He averaged 6.5 rebounds and went 72.7% at the free-throw line. Though Aluma went undrafted in 2021, he was a two-time second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honoree with the Hokies.

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During the offseason, Aluma spent time in the 2024 NBA Summer League with the Philadelphia 76ers. He notched 11 points per game over three games while shooting at an outstanding 84.6% clip from 2.

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2. Kirk: Now Naturalized

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Alex Kirk heads into his second season with Ryukyu as a naturalized player after obtaining Japanese citizenship. This means the 6-foot-11 center is no longer recognized as an import, freeing up space for the Golden Kings to make future foreign signings.

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“This is one of the happiest days of my family’s and my life,” Kirk said of the naturalization. “Basketball has taken me all around the world and has brought me to my home here in Japan. I’m humbled and beyond excited to be a Japanese citizen.”

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According to EASL’s 2024-25 competition guidelines, each participating team is only allowed two import players on its roster. Prior to Kirk’s naturalization, this rule could’ve limited his playing time to mainly domestic action. Now, Ryukyu will have no issue featuring Kirk — a 2,000-plus career rebounder — in every EASL contest.

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3. Tested in Preseason

In early September, Ryukyu competed in a four-team preseason tournament held in Sicily, Italy. This marked the first-ever time that a B.LEAGUE team participated in a European tour. Playing two games in consecutive days, the Golden Kings finished fourth after losing to Italian clubs Trapani Shark (78-69) and Derthona Basket (80-71).  

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“During this expedition, we were able to gain valuable experience through playing against strong local teams…” Ryukyu stated in a team press release. “It was a great opportunity for the players to test their own abilities in an international match. They were able to clarify their growth and future challenges.”

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Although European basketball greatly differs to how EASL opponents will likely play, Ryukyu believes its experience in Italy will help the Golden Kings become the No. 1 team in East Asia.

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Players To Watch

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1. Ryuichi Kishimoto

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Ryuichi Kishimoto has spent his entire 10-year professional career with Ryukyu since joining the organization as a rookie in 2013-14. The 5-foot-9 point guard has helped the Golden Kings win a B.LEAGUE championship and two bj League championships.

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In 2023-24, Kishimoto started all 60 regular season games and averaged 10.9 points per game. He shot an impressive 89.7% from the charity stripe and averaged 3 assists.

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2. Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki

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Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki is a savvy sharpshooting guard. Joining the B.LEAGUE’s Toyama Grouses out of college in 2019, he was picked up by the San-en NeoPhoenix for a year-long stint in 2021 before landing with Ryukyu.

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During the inaugural 2023-24 EASL campaign, Matsuwaki participated in six games and averaged 7.3 points. The highlight of his season came on Jan. 24 when he poured in 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting from 3 to help the Golden Kings beat New Taipei.

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3. Jack Cooley

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An overseas journeyman, Jack Cooley will enter his fifth season with Ryukyu in October. The 6-foot-9 forward played collegiately at Notre Dame but spent the front end of his professional career bouncing back-and-forth between the NBA and Europe.

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Practically unstoppable near the basket with either hand, Coolley averaged double-doubles in both the 2023-24 B.LEAGUE (14.4 ppg, 10.8 rpg) and EASL (10.7 ppg, 10.3 rpg) seasons.

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Ryukyu Golden Kings By The Numbers

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Ryukyu Golden Kings’ 2023-24 EASL Season 

• Group stage record: 3-3
• Nov. 1, 2023 — 80-79 win over Seoul SK Knights (KBL)
• Nov. 15, 2023 — 82-69 loss against Seoul SK Knights (KBL)
• Dec. 13, 2023 — 89-61 win over Meralco Bolts (PBA)
• Jan. 10, 2024 — 67-63 loss against New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+)
• Jan. 24, 2024 — 90-67 win over New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+)

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Ryukyu Golden Kings’ 2023-24 EASL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Vic Law — 19 ppg
• Rebounds: Jack Cooley, Vic Law — 10.3 rpg
• Assists: Allen Durham — 5.3 apg
• Steals: Jack Cooley — 1.3 spg
• Blocks: Allen Durham — 1.3 bpg

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Ryukyu Golden Kings’ 2023-24 B.LEAGUE Season

• Regular season record: 41-19
• Finished 2nd in B.LEAGUE Western Conference
• Defeated Alvark Tokyo (2-1) and the Chiba Jets (2-1) but lost to the Hiroshima Dragonflies (2-1) in the B.LEAGUE Finals

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Ryukyu Golden Kings’ 2023-24 B.LEAGUE Statistic Leaders

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• Points: Jack Cooley — 14.4 ppg
• Rebounds: Jack Cooley — 10.8 rpg
• Assists: Allen Durham — 4.1 apg
• Steals: Keita Imamura, Jack Cooley — 0.9 spg
• Blocks: Jack Cooley — 0.8 bpg

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Team Schedule

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