Yokohama B-Corsairs' Yuki Kamakura is a pass-first combo guard.
I know, this is an awkward statement to say, given that "pass-first" and "combo guard" can't be said in the same sentence, especially if this was the 90s.
Slam Dunk's Maki?
I guess he's the closest, but I don't think Kamakura is built like a tank.
Anyway, Kamakura is a pass-first combo guard whose skill set is not made for the NBA. Now I am not dissing his talents. It's just that the unselfish point guard role in the NBA is TJ McConnell, but with good communication skills. Like most foreigners, the language barrier is going to be a chore for Kamakura, as what happened to Yuta Tabuse. Now add the fact that he also needs to add swagger to his mindset, which could at least save him from becoming the next Tabuse, Liu Wei, Sun Yue, or any underutilized Asian NBA player ever.
With that said, Kamakura has been exploiting Kai Sotto's jump-and-catch button. In some ways, this is what I wanted SJ Belangel, Gerry Abadiano, and RJ Abarrientos to do during their Gilas Youth days. Instead of just pushing the ball on the inside, they choose to take triples and make Kaiju do his damage via rebounds and putbacks.
I like the fact that Tim Cone is making Sotto his Gilas version of Greg Slaughter and Christian Standhardinger.