Kenichi Sako
Sako in 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Levanga Hokkaido | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Head coach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Japanese B.League | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | July 17, 1970 Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 172 lb (78 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Hokuriku | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Chuo University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1993–2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Point guard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 2014–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As a player: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–2002 | Isuzu Motors Giga Cats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2011 | Aisin SeaHorses Mikawa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As a coach: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2017 | Hiroshima Dragonflies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2021 | Japan national basketball team (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–present | Levanga Hokkaido | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As player:
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| FIBA Hall of Fame | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Kenichi Sako (佐古 賢一, born 17 July 1970) is a Japanese former basketball player and current coach. Nicknamed "Mr. Basketball", Sako played as point guard and is widely regarded as one of the best Japanese players in history, having won twelve Emperor's Cup titles and nine JBL championships. Representing the Japan national team, Sako played at one FIBA World Cup in 1998, and won one silver and one bronze medal at the FIBA Asia Cup. He was enshrined into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2020, becoming the first Japanese player to be inducted.