– Focus on management activities in Japan and overseas, centered on supporting Okada’s career development abroad –
Rakuten Sports, the global athlete-support business of Rakuten Group, Inc. (“Rakuten”), has signed a management agreement with Taiga Okada, who plays for Sun Chlorella Dragons (EBA), the second team of Zentro Basket Madrid, a basketball club based in Spain.
Rakuten Sports is committed to building partnerships based on shared values with professional sports teams, athletes, branding, and rights holders. Through this agreement, we will carry out management activities in Japan and overseas, centered on supporting Okada’s career development as he continues to compete abroad.
Okada began playing basketball at an early age, and in the Junior All-Star national prefectural basketball tournament, which he competed in as a junior high school student, he helped the Shizuoka Prefecture selection team reach the national top eight. In September 2019, he moved to Spain at the age of 15 and played in the cantera (youth system) of Zentro Basket Madrid. In October 2021, he made his professional debut at the age of 17, the youngest Japanese player ever to do so in Spain’s EBA league. In addition, at the 12th Basketball Without Borders Asia 2022, held in Australia in August 2022, he was selected to the Men’s All-Star team as a player who stood out for his on-court performance and leadership, and he is expected to achieve even greater success internationally.
Okada commented as follows: “I am very pleased to have signed a management agreement with Rakuten Sports. I am truly grateful for their support as I take on the challenge of pursuing my career overseas. Through my efforts abroad, I hope to inspire many people with the courage to take a first step and with a sense of excitement. Moving forward, I will never forget the gratitude I feel toward everyone who has supported me, and I will continue to work hard every day so that I can grow into a player who is supported by many people.”
Rahul Kadavakolu, Vice President of Global Sports Business at Rakuten, commented as follows: “We are delighted and honored that Okada has chosen Rakuten Sports as his partner. He moved to Spain at a young age and has already made his mark in Spain’s professional league as the youngest Japanese player ever to do so, and I believe he is a pioneer among Japanese basketball players. We aim to realize an innovative partnership with Okada and empower athletes who are active not only in Japan but around the world.”
Rakuten has been involved in a variety of activities in the basketball industry, including a partnership agreement with the NBA (the U.S. professional basketball league) and the Golden State Warriors since 2017. Through that partnership, Rakuten has also carried out a range of initiatives with Stephen Curry, who is a member of the team. Rakuten Sports also operates an athlete management business, and supports the management activities of Yuki Kawamura, who plays for the B.LEAGUE’s Yokohama B-Corsairs; Rui Machida, who plays for Fujitsu Red Wave in the W League (the women’s Japanese basketball league) and played for the Washington Mystics of the WNBA (the U.S. women’s professional basketball league) during the 2022 season; Kai Toews of Shiga Lakes; and Kakeru King of the Yokohama B-Corsairs. Rakuten has also supported marketing activities for Yuta Watanabe of the Japanese national basketball team, and through these various initiatives has built a network in the basketball world and the sports industry both in Japan and overseas.
In 2022, Rakuten also co-hosted NBA Japan Games 2022 Presented by Rakuten & NISSAN, featuring the Golden State Warriors and the Washington Wizards, and held the World University Basketball Series, an annual tournament for top university basketball teams. By leveraging these networks, the Rakuten Ecosystem, and its branding expertise, Rakuten aims to support athletes such as Okada who are active in Japan and overseas from multiple angles.
Moving forward, Rakuten Sports will continue to support young athletes who will lead the next generation and implement various initiatives that contribute to revitalizing and developing the sports industry as a whole, with the goal of empowering people through sports.
■Taiga Okada Profile
Date of Birth: May 23, 2004 (18 years old)
Height/Weight: 172 cm / 60 kg
Hometown: Shizuoka Prefecture
Position: Point Guard
Team History: Shizuoka Elementary School and Junior High School Affiliated with Shizuoka University School of Education – Jaime Vera High School – Zentro Basket Madrid (Cantera) – Zentro Basket Madrid (EBA) – Sun Chlorella Dragons (EBA)
■About Rakuten Sports
Rakuten Sports is committed to building partnerships based on shared values with professional sports teams, athletes, branding, and rights holders.
https://biz.sports.rakuten.net
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*The information contained herein is current as of the date of publication. Please note that it may differ from the latest information available.