Former No. 8 overall pick Stanley Johnson isn’t just still playing—he’s thriving.

On this episode of Pacific Rims, Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt sit down with the ex-Detroit Pistons forward turned global hooper, now leading Nagasaki Velca to one of the most shocking turnarounds in Japan’s B.League.

After a frustrating stint with Anadolu Efes, Johnson opens up about:

• Why his game finally fits overseas
• The truth about NBA roles vs. global freedom
• How elite infrastructure in Japan rivals the Golden State Warriors
• Why he REFUSES to quit—even after setbacks

Plus:

• A shocking scouting report on rising Korean sniper HyunJung “HJ” Lee
• The global pathways reshaping basketball across Asia
• Why the next wave of talent may NOT come through the NBA pipeline

This isn’t a comeback story.

It’s a redefinition of success in modern basketball.

0:00 – Welcome to Pacific Rims

1:00 – Stanley Johnson joins the show

2:00 – Nagasaki’s shocking rise (26–34 → 37–9)

4:00 – “Warriors-level” facilities in Japan

6:00 – Why overseas changed his mindset

9:30 – Why Anadolu Efes didn’t work

12:30 – The coach who unlocked his game

14:00 – Import pressure & B.League expectations

16:00 – Why he refuses to quit basketball

18:00 – Life in Japan (language, culture, daily grind)

20:00 – HJ Lee: “One of the best shooters I’ve ever seen”

23:30 – NBA potential & military-service dilemma

25:00 – Could Stanley stay in Japan long-term?

26:00 – What a championship would mean

27:30 – Losing his mother & mental resilience

31:00 – Surviving the NBA reality curve

34:00 – Greg Stolt on scouting & B.League transition

36:00 – The rise of Asian basketball pathways

38:00 – Philippines basketball culture explosion 🇵🇭

40:00 – AUBL & future global pipeline

45:00 – Outro

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

👉 NewAirClub.com

#StanleyJohnson #BLEAGUE #JapanBasketball #NBAGlobal #PacificRims #UnitedWeCast #OverseasBasketball #EuroLeague #AsianBasketball #HoopsCulture

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What happens when an NBA vet discovers his roots… and ends up representing an entire nation?

In this episode of Pacific Rims, Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt sit down with Kyle Anderson—aka Li Kaier—to unpack one of the most unique stories in global basketball.

From tracing his ancestry back to Shenzhen… to becoming a naturalized Chinese citizen… to leading China men's national basketball team at the FIBA World Cup—this is bigger than basketball.

It’s about identity, culture, and what it really means to represent something greater than yourself.

💥 PLUS:

• The REAL difference between NBA and FIBA basketball

• The culture shock of Team China vs NBA life

• Why international basketball demands higher IQ + team play

• How China can become a global basketball power

0:00 – Welcome to Pacific Rims 🌏

0:50 – Introducing Kyle Anderson (Li Kaier)

1:30 – Sponsor: New Air Club ✈️

2:00 – Discovering his Chinese ancestry

3:30 – Family roots: Shenzhen → Jamaica → NBA

5:00 – Becoming a Chinese citizen & joining Team China

6:00 – Getting CUT from Team USA & motivation 🔥

7:00 – Representing China at the World Cup

9:00 – Language barriers & bonding without words

10:00 – Culture shock: NBA luxury vs national team grind

12:00 – Why FIBA basketball is tougher mentally

14:00 – Communication, coaching & international systems

17:00 – Future with Team China & World Cup goals

18:00 – How China can become a basketball powerhouse

19:30 – Life in China, food & culture (hot pot 🔥)

21:00 – Would Kyle play in the CBA?

23:00 – Identity, heritage & family connection

25:30 – UCLA roots & Pauley Pavilion memories

26:30 – Post-interview analysis: global hoops evolution

32:00 – Americans thriving overseas 🌏

37:00 – Future guests + closing thoughts

• Global basketball is evolving—and identity is part of the game
• The NBA isn’t the only path to impact
• Culture, connection, and competition are colliding

This episode is powered by New Air Club—the ultimate door-to-door private aviation service.

Skip the hassle. Travel like a pro team.

👉 Learn more: newairclub.com

#KyleAnderson #LiKaier #TeamChina #NBAGlobal #FIBA #PacificRims #UnitedWeCast

#BasketballCulture #ChinaBasketball #NBAInternational #GlobalHoops #CBA

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PROGRAMMING NOTE: In the video version of this episode, a clip of guest Andrew Gaze appearing on "Dancing With The Stars" is played; as a result, there is a brief stretch of silence in this audio-only version right around the two-minute mark.

Australia’s GOAT Andrew Gaze joins Ric Bucher and Greg Stolt for a wildly revealing Pacific Rims episode that starts with Dancing with the Stars stories… and ends with a reality check on global basketball power.

From surviving China trips with the Melbourne Tigers to breaking down how the Chinese Basketball Association has exploded in talent, facilities, and resources—Gaze explains why Asia is no longer “developing”… it’s arriving.

He also pulls back the curtain on:

• Why early international stars lacked NBA confidence (and today’s don’t)
• How Australia quietly exported its basketball brain across Asia
• The NIL era flipping global talent pipelines upside down
• His biggest career regret: passing on the NBA when the door was open
• And why today’s global game is more competitive—and more connected—than ever

Plus: the hilarious origin story of Bucher nearly getting stranded in China… and saved by Gaze.

If you think the NBA still owns basketball development, think again.

00:00 Welcome to Pacific Rims

00:52 Andrew Gaze intro + “Australia’s GOAT” claim

01:10 New Air Club sponsor read

02:00 Dancing with the Stars + beating Chris Hemsworth 👀

06:37 Bucher’s China survival story (Gaze to the rescue)

07:50 China’s basketball boom: talent, money, infrastructure

10:40 Australia exporting coaches & elevating Asia

13:30 Gaze’s Seton Hall journey + global recruiting evolution

18:50 NCAA controversy + missed NBA opportunity

21:30 Why early international players lacked NBA confidence

24:30 Dirk, Dražen & the global breakthrough era

28:00 NIL vs NBL: global talent war begins

32:00 Coaching his son + “coachability” plug

34:00 Yuki Kawamura + Japan’s rise (Bulls, national team)

42:30 Asian Games cuts + parity problem

45:00 Outro

#PacificRims #AndrewGaze #InternationalBasketball #NBAGlobal #NBL #CBA #NIL #BasketballDevelopment #YaoMing #JapanBasketball #NBA #UnitedWeCast

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