Why isn’t China producing more NBA stars? Which Asian country could become basketball’s next global powerhouse? And what really happens inside the NBA’s development system across Asia?

In this revealing episode of Pacific Rims, NBA analyst Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt sit down with former NBA China technical director and Asia development specialist Craig Brown to break down the real state of basketball across China, Southeast Asia, and beyond.

Brown shares behind-the-scenes insight into NBA academies in China, why Chinese player development faces structural challenges, why the Philippines could emerge as Asia’s basketball superpower, and how cultural differences shape global hoops success. From talent pipelines to coaching pressure to the importance of fun vs. discipline — this is a deep dive into how basketball is growing across the Pacific Rim.

They also discuss global scouting, youth development challenges, NBA talent pathways, Japan’s national team changes, and a shocking gambling scandal connected to Chinese basketball.

If you want to understand the future of global basketball — this episode is essential listening.

Pacific Rims is presented by New Air Club — luxury door-to-door private jet service.

Visit: newairclub.com

0:00 — Welcome to Pacific Rims

0:56 — Sponsor: New Air Club private jet service

1:46 — Craig Brown’s basketball and NBA Asia background

3:05 — Inside NBA Asia & youth development programs

4:00 — State of basketball in China today

5:44 — Why Chinese players may be falling behind globally

7:00 — Cultural pressure vs player development

9:00 — Hong Kong vs China basketball experience

9:58 — Why the Philippines loves basketball most

11:04 — NBA academies & global scouting pipeline

13:03 — Which Asian country could become a global power

15:02 — What China must change to reach NBA level

16:02 — Why “fun” matters in player development

17:24 — How NBA grassroots programs work in Asia

20:21 — Cultural barriers to basketball growth

22:03 — Why China hasn’t produced another Yao Ming

23:09 — Japan coaching change & national team impact

30:14 — Gambling scandal tied to Chinese basketball

35:02 — Why CBA style makes players vulnerable to betting influence

37:21 — NBA gambling partnerships & risks

40:30 — Future of global basketball integrity

#PacificRims #RicBucher #CraigBrown #NBAGlobal #BasketballAsia #ChinaBasketball #PhilippinesBasketball #NBADevelopment #InternationalBasketball #Hoops #FIBA #CBA #UnitedWeCast

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What’s it really like coaching basketball in South Korea—where the league runs on efficiency, hierarchy, and zero patience for underperforming imports?

On this episode of Pacific Rims, Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt sit down with Tyler Gatlin (assistant coach, Goyang Sono Skygunners; former NBA/G League coach and international scout) to break down the Korean Basketball League (KBL) from the inside: the lifestyle, the food, the communication grind, and the tactical priorities that look nothing like what NBA fans assume.

Then it gets deeper: Korea’s mandatory military service doesn’t just shape careers—it can derail them. Tyler explains how the “military team” works, what happens if a player doesn’t make it, and why medals can become a real-life basketball motivator. Plus: the truth about Korea’s best prospects—Ha Seung-jin as the NBA precedent, the rise of Lee Hyun-jung, and why Junseok Yeo (Seattle U) still faces the same national obligation.

And in the second half, Ric and Greg zoom out to the bigger Asia hoops business: Greg’s AUBL plans (including the Philippines), why scheduling across countries is a nightmare, and what it takes to build a truly cross-border college basketball ecosystem.

Presented by New Air Club (door-to-door private jet service).

• 0:00 Pacific Rims intro: Asia-Pacific hoops, explained
• 0:50 Tyler Gatlin joins + résumé (KBL / G League / scouting)
• 1:02 Sponsor: New Air Club
• 2:05 “Korea is awesome”—daily life, safety, efficiency, work culture
• 4:07 Food talk: why Korean BBQ is “unrivaled” (and what makes it real)
• 5:53 The hardest part as an American coach in the KBL
• 6:42 Japan vs Korea: staff structure, concepts, and what’s valued on-court
• 8:39 Film culture: watching full games, fewer pauses—different priorities
• 9:10 Building relationships + introducing NBA ideas without resistance
• 10:02 Language barrier + why speaking Korean changes everything
• 11:14 AI + communication tools (helpful—but not “on the fly”)
• 12:07 Import player rules: how the KBL keeps evolving (and why pressure is brutal)
• 14:16 Why Tyler chose Korea (and why he came back)
• 17:19 The KBL’s international ambition + the military reality hits
• 18:59 Mandatory service explained: timelines, tryouts, military team vs no-play reality
• 22:27 “Has a Korean-born player made the NBA?” Ha Seung-jin context
• 23:15 The next wave: Lee Hyun-jung + Junseok Yeo and the NBA pathway
• 24:33 Medal = exemption: why international tournaments carry extra stakes
• 26:09 Why top Koreans leave (hint: not money—competition + growth)
• 29:03 Korea’s college-to-pro timing: draft after season, rookies joining mid-semester
• 33:10 Greg’s takeaway: Tyler’s rare value as a true cultural “bridge”
• 36:03 AUBL expansion: why the Philippines is the key market
• 40:04 The biggest obstacle: scheduling across Asia’s mismatched calendars
• 43:15 Logistics reality: refs, staffing, visas, operations
• 44:32 Why Greg’s doing it: college hoops is Asia’s missing development/business link
• 46:39 Wrap + where to follow Pacific Rims

#PacificRims #RicBucher #GregStolt #TylerGatlin #KBL #KoreanBasketball #GoyangSonoSkygunners #AsianBasketball #JapanBasketball #BLeague #GLeague #NBA #FIBA #HyunjungLee #JunseokYeo #HaSeungJin #PhilippinesBasketball #AUBL #NewAirClub

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What happens when an old-school Aussie hoops lifer drops into Japan, Korea, and China and realizes the basketball is the easy part?

On this episode of Pacific Rims, co-hosts Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt welcome legendary coach Bruce Palmer to pull back the curtain on coaching across the Pacific Rim: why Japan demanded direct commands (not questions), how Korea’s league plan was executed “perfectly,” and why China’s basketball ecosystem can swing from NBA dreams to “who paid for the certificate?” in the same breath.

Palmer shares the cultural landmines translators can’t save you from, the behind-the-scenes truth about player development, and a wild personal story from the 2011 Japan earthquake—including the moment he realized Fukushima had blown up… after he’d gone golfing.

If you want the real story of Asian basketball, this is it: structure vs. volatility, development vs. politics, and coaching when everything is out of your control.

00:00 — Pacific Rims intro & episode setup

01:31 — Introducing Coach Bruce Palmer

01:58 — Coaching across Japan, Korea & China

02:20 — Japan: no irony, no questions, direct commands

03:31 — Cultural clash: “Just tell them what to do”

05:49 — Japan leagues merge → foundation of today’s B.League

07:08 — Why Japan’s development model worked

07:45 — Korea: tough play, big crowds, executed plan

09:23 — NBA school in China & grassroots development

11:16 — China tryouts: instant NBA expectations

12:46 — “If the water’s too clean, the fish will die”

15:00 — Coaching across cultures: what really matters

20:17 — 2011 Japan earthquake experience

22:13 — “Fukushima blew up” realization

24:25 — Imports, NBA experience & raising local talent

28:06 — China owner story that defines the chaos

31:49 — Legacy, impact & coaching beyond basketball

35:09 — Final takeaways & closing

#PacificRims #RicBucher #GregStolt #BrucePalmer #AsianBasketball #JapanBasketball #BLeague #ChinaBasketball #CBA #KoreaBasketball #NBL #InternationalBasketball #BasketballCoaching #HoopsCulture #GlobalBasketball #UnitedWeCastNetwork

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