China’s Asian Games Setback Raises Questions Over the Gap With Japan

China's men's basketball team suffered another major setback at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, losing 77-97 to Japan in the semifinal on September 18 and missing the Asian Games final for a second consecutive edition.

The defeat was striking not only because of the 20-point margin, but also because Japan entered the tournament without several of its best-known overseas players, including NBA player Rui Hachimura and other regular national-team members. Japan instead relied largely on players from its domestic league, along with naturalized center Josh Hawkinson.

So where does the gap come from?

Shooting and Offensive Efficiency

One of the clearest differences was shooting. China finished the game shooting just 38% from the field and made 7 of 25 three-point attempts, a 28% success rate. Japan, meanwhile, connected on 12 of 30 three-point attempts, or 40%. The five-made-three difference alone accounted for 15 points.

China also struggled to generate efficient offense when its outside shots were not falling. The team became increasingly impatient, while Japan continued to create opportunities through quick ball movement and transition attacks.

Head coach Guo Shiqiang acknowledged after the game that China's shot selection and ball handling became less patient as the team fell behind.

Rebounding and Physical Play

The battle under the basket was another problem. China was outrebounded 41-47, and Japan repeatedly created second-chance opportunities.

China forward Cui Yongxi said after the game that rebounding was one of the biggest problems, particularly dealing with Japan's long-range shots and the resulting long rebounds. Japan coach Taisuke Yoshimoto also credited his players' positioning and physical strength for their advantage on the boards.

The issue was not limited to individual rebounds. Japan's willingness to compete for loose balls and offensive rebounds helped establish the tempo of the game from the opening minutes.

Defense and Tempo

China fell behind 30-49 by halftime and was briefly down by as many as 35 points in the third quarter.

Japan's offense repeatedly used fast breaks, quick passing and three-point opportunities to stretch the defense. China struggled to stop those sequences, while its own offensive problems became more pronounced as the deficit grew.

Guo said the team had problems in both individual and team defense and failed to execute its plan to control Japan's offensive rebounds.

Captain Hu Mingxuan similarly said China allowed Japan to become comfortable early in the game and found itself trying to correct problems only after the deficit had become substantial.

More Than One Game

The result is also part of a larger trend. China has now failed to reach the Asian Games final in two consecutive editions. The team also lost 73-92 to Japan in a World Cup qualifier in July, meaning the two teams have produced two significant victories for Japan within a little more than two months.

China Basketball Team said after the semifinal that the defeat had exposed multiple problems on both offense and defense. The team promised to conduct a thorough review, adjust its condition and continue fighting in the remaining match.

The setback therefore raises questions that extend beyond one coach or one tournament. Shooting consistency, defensive execution, rebounding, physical intensity and the ability to maintain composure under pressure are all areas China must address if it wants to close the gap with the strongest teams in Asia.

China will now face Iran in the bronze-medal game on September 20. For the players and coaching staff, it will be an immediate opportunity to respond — but the broader questions exposed by the semifinal will require a much longer-term answer.