Pacific Rims
Claim This Podcastby Ric Bucher
Podcast Overview
<p><strong>Pacific Rims</strong> is a weekly basketball podcast from the <strong>United We Cast Network</strong> that delivers smart, authoritative coverage of professional hoops across the <strong>Pacific Rim</strong> and the growing influence of the region on the global game. Hosted by long-time <strong>NBA analyst and Yao Ming biographer Ric Bucher</strong> alongside <strong>former overseas professional player and Asia-based NBA executive Greg Stolt</strong>, Pacific Rims connects the dots between Asia-Pacific leagues and the highest levels of basketball in the United States.</p><p>Each episode breaks down the <strong>need-to-know stories</strong> shaping professional basketball in <strong>Australia (NBL), China (CBA), Korea (KBL), and Japan (B.League)</strong>—from league trends and front-office decisions to coaching philosophies, player development pipelines, and the business of basketball in the region. The show also spotlights <strong>players from the Pacific Rim making an impact in the NBA and U.S. college basketball</strong>, examining how international prospects transition to the American game and how NBA teams evaluate and invest in Asia-Pacific talent.</p><p>Blending insider reporting, executive perspective, and global basketball context, Pacific Rims is essential listening for fans, scouts, coaches, executives, and anyone interested in <strong>international basketball, Asian leagues, NBA global strategy, and the future of the game across the Pacific Rim</strong>.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
1/15/2026
1 verified contact email on file for Pacific Rims
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Recent Episodes
June 9, 2026
Brian Goorjian on China, Japan’s Basketball Boom and Why Australia’s Best Days Are Still Ahead | Pacific Rims
<p>Australian basketball legend and seven-time NBL champion coach Brian Goorjian joins Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt for one of the most insightful conversations yet on the state of basketball across the Pacific Rim.</p><p>Goorjian reflects on his decade-long coaching journey in China, the lessons he learned from the Chinese basketball system, why those years made him a better coach, and how player development differs dramatically between China and Australia.</p><p>He explains why Japan has become the fastest-rising basketball nation in Asia, how the B.League has transformed into a world-class professional league, and why Japanese basketball is now competing with Australia for coaches, talent and influence.</p><p>The discussion also explores the impact of NIL on international basketball, the growth of Australia's talent pipeline, the emergence of South Sudanese-Australian players, the future of the Australian Boomers, and why national-team success comes in carefully managed four-year cycles.</p><p>Plus, Ric and Greg break down the CBA Finals, the dominance of the Shanghai Sharks, the unique quirks of Chinese basketball regulations, and Nagasaki Velca's championship run in Japan behind Stanley Johnson and H.J. Lee.</p><p>If you love international basketball, coaching, player development and the future of the game beyond the NBA, this is an episode you won't want to miss.</p><h1>⏱️ TIME STAMPS</h1><p><strong>00:00</strong> Introduction and Brian Goorjian joins Pacific Rims</p><p><strong>01:00</strong> Pepperdine memories and scoring the first basket at Firestone Fieldhouse</p><p><strong>02:45</strong> Building a championship coaching philosophy</p><p><strong>04:45</strong> Creating the Melbourne Magic identity</p><p><strong>05:40</strong> Coaching differences between Australia and China</p><p><strong>07:15</strong> How China made Goorjian a better coach</p><p><strong>08:30</strong> Chinese training methods he still uses today</p><p><strong>09:15</strong> Defining what makes a great player</p><p><strong>10:15</strong> Protein, weight training and cultural coaching differences</p><p><strong>11:00</strong> Practice intensity vs. training volume in China</p><p><strong>12:00</strong> Why he stayed in China for a decade</p><p><strong>13:00</strong> Respect, relationships and life lessons from China</p><p><strong>14:45</strong> Building Dongguan with Nick Popovic, Billy Tomlinson and Jake Choumiloff</p><p><strong>17:30</strong> Which Asian basketball nation is rising fastest?</p><p><strong>18:00</strong> Why Japan is the clear No. 1 answer</p><p><strong>19:15</strong> How the B.League became a global model</p><p><strong>20:10</strong> Japan's Olympic success and coaching infrastructure</p><p><strong>20:45</strong> NIL's impact on Australian basketball</p><p><strong>21:30</strong> Why Australia benefits from post-NIL talent</p><p><strong>22:00</strong> The influence of South Sudanese players on Australian basketball</p><p><strong>23:00</strong> Why basketball is attracting Australia's top athletes</p><p><strong>24:30</strong> The future of the Australian Boomers</p><p><strong>25:30</strong> Lessons from Australia's Olympic bronze medal</p><p><strong>26:45</strong> Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels and Australia's next generation</p><p><strong>28:15</strong> Why national teams must think in four-year cycles</p><p><strong>29:00</strong> Thoughts on China's national team future</p><p><strong>30:00</strong> Australia's growing talent pipeline</p><p><strong>31:15</strong> Why Australia is becoming a destination league</p><p><strong>31:45</strong> CBA Finals discussion begins</p><p><strong>32:15</strong> Shanghai Sharks' championship roster construction</p><p><strong>33:20</strong> Wang Zhelin, Kevin Zhang and China's next generation</p><p><strong>34:00</strong> How Shanghai built a championship contender</p><p><strong>35:00</strong> The CBA's unique player testing requirements</p><p><strong>36:00</strong> China's unusual preseason fitness and shooting tests</p><p><strong>36:45</strong> Nagasaki Velca wins the B.League championship</p><p><strong>37:30</strong> Stanley Johnson and H.J. Lee's impact</p><p><strong>38:20</strong> Why Japan's fan experience is the best in Asia</p><p><strong>39:15</strong> Lessons other leagues can learn from the B.League</p><p><strong>40:00</strong> H.J. Lee's NBA aspirations</p><p><strong>40:30</strong> Stanley Johnson's future in Japan</p><p><strong>41:00</strong> Final thoughts and closing remarks</p><h1>HASHTAGS</h1><p>#PacificRims #BrianGoorjian #BLeague #CBA #JapanBasketball #AustralianBasketball #Boomers #InternationalBasketball #StanleyJohnson #HJLee #ShanghaiSharks #NagasakiVelca #BasketballPodcast #RicBucher #GregStolt</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
May 23, 2026
Inside NBA International Scouting: How Hansen Wong Went from Hong Kong to the Indiana Pacers Front Office
<p>What does it take to discover NBA talent across Asia, Africa and the world?</p><p>In this fascinating episode of Pacific Rims, Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt sit down with Hansen Wong — manager of international scouting for the Indiana Pacers — for an insider’s look at the NBA scouting world and the global growth of basketball.</p><p>Hansen shares his incredible journey from growing up in Hong Kong to landing an internship with the Pacers after a memorable baseball-glove interview with Rick Carlisle. He also reveals how relationships with J. B. Bickerstaff, Mike Brown and the Pacers organization helped shape his career.</p><p>The conversation dives deep into:</p><ul><li>What NBA scouts really look for in international players</li><li>Why shooting and athleticism dominate modern scouting</li><li>The differences between basketball development in Asia vs. Africa</li><li>Why most successful Asian NBA players have been big men</li><li>How NIL and college basketball are reshaping global recruiting</li><li>The importance of intel, personality and adaptability in scouting</li><li>Why international development still lags behind the NBA level</li><li>How video work and analytics influence front-office decisions</li><li>The evolving role of the G League and NBA pathways</li></ul><p>Plus, Ric and Greg break down the latest B.League playoff action in Japan, discuss Nagasaki’s dominance, the impact of Korean sharpshooter H.J. Lee, Yuta Watanabe’s matchup battles, and how Japan has become one of the premier basketball destinations in the world.</p><p>A must-listen episode for anyone interested in NBA scouting, global basketball development, and the future of international hoops.</p><h2>⏱️ TIME STAMPS</h2><p>00:00 – Intro & meet Hansen Wong</p><p> 01:00 – Correcting his Pacers title & background</p><p> 02:30 – Growing up in Hong Kong speaking Cantonese & Mandarin</p><p> 03:30 – Why basketball wasn’t originally a career path</p><p> 05:00 – Minnesota, finance & finding sports management</p><p> 07:00 – Getting his first basketball opportunity at Minnesota</p><p> 09:00 – How J.B. Bickerstaff helped connect him to the Pacers</p><p> 10:30 – The unforgettable Rick Carlisle baseball-glove interview</p><p> 14:00 – Discovering basketball through his father in Hong Kong</p><p> 16:00 – Family support & choosing basketball over finance</p><p> 17:30 – What NBA scouts look for in international talent</p><p> 19:00 – Why Asian NBA players are often big men</p><p> 20:30 – Africa vs. Asia in player development</p><p> 22:00 – The biggest traits scouts look for today</p><p> 24:00 – NIL, college basketball & international recruiting</p><p> 26:00 – Transitioning from video intern to international scout</p><p> 28:00 – How scouting reports really work inside NBA front offices</p><p> 30:00 – The hardest part of international scouting</p><p> 31:00 – The importance of background intel & personality</p><p> 33:00 – B.League playoff update begins</p><p> 34:00 – Why Nagasaki looks unstoppable in Japan</p><p> 36:00 – H.J. Lee, Stanley Johnson & B.League chemistry</p><p> 37:00 – Coaching movement between Japan and NCAA basketball</p><h2>🔑 HASHTAGS</h2><p>#PacificRims #NBA #IndianaPacers #NBAScouting #Basketball #BLeague #JapanBasketball #HansenWong #InternationalBasketball #GLeague #RickCarlisle #YutaWatanabe #AsianBasketball #GlobalHoops</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
May 15, 2026
How Mongolia Became Basketball’s Fastest-Rising Power | Tenuun Otgonbayar on Pacific Rims
<p>How did Mongolia become one of the fastest-growing basketball cultures in the world?</p><p>In this episode of Pacific Rims, Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt welcome Tenuun Otgonbayar — president of the Mongolian Collegiate Basketball Association and one of the driving forces behind the explosive rise of basketball in Mongolia.</p><p>Tenuun shares the emotional story of discovering basketball while learning English as a teenager in the United States and explains how the game became his “unspoken language” and ultimately his life’s mission.</p><p>The conversation explores:</p><ul><li>Why basketball became a perfect cultural fit for Mongolia</li><li>How 3x3 basketball transformed the country’s sports landscape</li><li>The rapid rise of Mongolian pro and college basketball</li><li>Why Mongolia has become a legitimate global basketball market</li><li>The impact of the AUBL on Asian college basketball</li><li>How Mongolian parents now view basketball as a real career path</li><li>The role NBA culture, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan played in inspiring Mongolia’s youth</li><li>DeMarcus Cousins’ surprising connection to Mongolian basketball</li><li>Why basketball is helping keep kids off screens and on the court</li></ul><p>Plus, Ric and Greg break down the latest B.League playoff drama in Japan, including Nagoya’s shocking upset of Utsunomiya, Yuta Watanabe’s impact for Chiba, and why the Japanese league has become one of the premier basketball destinations in Asia.</p><p>This is an inspiring deep dive into how basketball is changing lives, communities and the future of sports across Mongolia and Asia.</p><h2>⏱️ TIME STAMPS</h2><p>00:00 – Intro & meet Tenuun Otgonbayar</p><p> 01:00 – Discovering basketball while learning English in America</p><p> 03:00 – Mongolia’s basketball explosion over the last decade</p><p> 07:30 – Why basketball became a cultural fit in Mongolia</p><p> 10:00 – The rise of 3x3 basketball in Mongolia</p><p> 12:00 – Mongolian players competing internationally</p><p> 15:00 – How parents now see basketball as a real career path</p><p> 16:00 – DeMarcus Cousins playing in Mongolia</p><p> 19:00 – Mongolia’s love of NBA and Western culture</p><p> 20:30 – The deeper purpose of basketball development in Mongolia</p><p> 23:00 – AUBL, scholarships & opportunities for young athletes</p><p> 26:00 – Tenuun’s dream for Mongolia’s basketball future</p><p> 29:00 – Basketball as community, discipline & life development</p><p> 31:00 – B.League playoff breakdown begins</p><p> 34:00 – Chiba vs Gunma playoff drama</p><p> 36:00 – Why Japanese basketball has evolved so rapidly</p><p> 38:00 – Nagoya’s upset of Utsunomiya analyzed</p><p> 40:00 – What makes the B.League different today</p><h2>🔑 HASHTAGS</h2><p>#PacificRims #MongoliaBasketball #Basketball #FIBA3x3 #BLeague #AsianBasketball #NBA #JapanBasketball #AUBL #DeMarcusCousins #YutaWatanabe #GlobalHoops #RicBucher</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
18 total episodes available
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- What is Pacific Rims?
<p><strong>Pacific Rims</strong> is a weekly basketball podcast from the <strong>United We Cast Network</strong> that delivers smart, authoritative coverage of professional hoops across the <strong>Pacific Rim</strong> and the growing influence of the region on the global game. Hosted by long-time <strong>NBA analyst and Yao Ming biographer Ric Bucher</strong> alongside <strong>former overseas professional player and Asia-based NBA executive Greg Stolt</strong>, Pacific Rims connects the dots between Asia-Pacific leagues and the highest levels of basketball in the United States.</p><p>Each episode breaks down the <strong>need-to-know stories</strong> shaping professional basketball in <strong>Australia (NBL), China (CBA), Korea (KBL), and Japan (B.League)</strong>—from league trends and front-office decisions to coaching philosophies, player development pipelines, and the business of basketball in the region. The show also spotlights <strong>players from the Pacific Rim making an impact in the NBA and U.S. college basketball</strong>, examining how international prospects transition to the American game and how NBA teams evaluate and invest in Asia-Pacific talent.</p><p>Blending insider reporting, executive perspective, and global basketball context, Pacific Rims is essential listening for fans, scouts, coaches, executives, and anyone interested in <strong>international basketball, Asian leagues, NBA global strategy, and the future of the game across the Pacific Rim</strong>.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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