“Japanese Curry” Or “Samurai Steph”. These are the flattering nicknames given to Keisei Tominaga, this leader from Nebraska, author of some brilliant strokes in the NCAA. At 23 years old, this Japanese was not invited to the Draft Combine, and he does not appear in any “Mock Draft”. But on Tuesday, the Kings asked to see him, and maybe they would be willing to sign him after the Draft for a two-way contract. A test is also planned with the Clippers.
Whatever the case, Tominaga is one of the players capable of electrifying a room with his atypical style and his risky game. Not forgetting his celebrations which made the rounds on television during the Big Ten tournament. We remember that he had 30 points against Michigan in the last conference game, then 23 points in the victory against Indiana, and finally 18 points against Illinois. In the NCAA tournament, the leader of Fred Hoiberg's team ended his career with a 21-point game in the first round loss to Texas A&M.
An assumed comparison
Son of a basketball dad and mom, Tominaga now fully embraces his nickname. “I didn’t really notice it at first. I was just playing basketball” he assures. “But when I watched videos and highlights, I felt like I was trying to copy her style of play. I don't really think about it during matches, but the more I watch highlights of Steph Curry, the more I play like him. »
Having gone through a Junior College upon his arrival on American soil, he really exploded when he joined Nebraska. A year ago, he had already registered in the Draft, and he had a tryout with the Pacers. “They told me to progress in creation” he reports. “It’s not just about shooting. That's why I started working in these areas, especially on the offensive side. I think it paid off. I still need to improve on a lot of things, but I'm getting closer to my dream. I'm just going to continue to work harder and get stronger. That's all I have to do for now. »
Japan's leader at the 2024 Olympics
This time, it was the Kings who asked to see him, and Tominaga only thinks of one thing: the pleasure of playing. “I have progressed a lot, on and off the field. I always enjoy it. That's why my emotions come out. I never wonder what celebration I'm going to go out with. It comes naturally. I just enjoy playing basketball. »
If he fails to convince an NBA franchise, we could always see him at the Olympic Games in the colors of Japan. Last year, he finished the World Cup with an average of 11.5 points.
