SINGAPORE – Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura and 2002 National Basketball Association (NBA) champion Mitch Richmond – who is also a Lakers alumnus – will be adding stardust to the NBA Rising Stars Invitational held at The Kallang’s OCBC Arena from June 23 to 28.

On June 3, the organisers announced that Japan international Hachimura and 1996 Olympic gold medallist Richmond will join 2019 NBA champion Jeremy Lin and Lauren Jackson – who won the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) championship in 2004 and 2010 – at the event. They will be interacting with youth and taking part in fan meet-and-greet sessions.

The quartet will also participate in a coaches’ clinic on June 24 and a series of community programmes – including a Her Time to Play clinic and leadership panel, and a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA clinic on June 26, 27 and 28, respectively – presented by official community partner Karim Family Foundation.

Hachimura, 28, who was born in Toyama to a Japanese mother and a Beninese father, became the first Japanese-born player to be drafted in the first round when he was selected ninth overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2019 NBA Draft. He went on to be named in the 2019-20 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

He said: “I’m honoured to be part of the NBA Rising Stars Invitational and see some of the best high-school teams the region has to offer.

“Having played high-school basketball in Japan, I understand how meaningful opportunities like this can be at the early stages of a player’s journey, and I’m excited to be part of a programme that helps inspire the next generation of players from Asia-Pacific.”

Richmond, a 60-year-old former shooting guard, added: “The NBA Rising Stars Invitational is proof of how global the game of basketball has become.