FIBA World Cup 2023 Roster Tracker
August 22, 2023
Makoto Hiejima
- Nationality: JAP
- Date of Birth: 11/08/90
- Place of Birth: Fukuoka (Japan)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 190
- Weight (KG): 88
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Aoyama Gakuin University
- NBL DEBUT: 13/10/18
- AGE AT DEBUT: 28
- LAST NBL GAME: 15/12/18
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 28
- NBL History: Brisbane 2019
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: A Fukuoka Prefecture native and Rakunan High School alum, Hiejima attended Aoyama Gakuin University, where he helped his high school team to three consecutive Winter Cup championships, indicating his impact at the national high school level prior to university competition before making his pro debut with the Aisin SeaHorses Mikawa in 2013.
FAMILY: Josh is the son of Cahla and Delmas Green. He has three siblings: Jay, Ky, and Maya. His father played at Oregon Tech, while both of his parents played professionally in Australia. Josh’s brother Jay currently plays for the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Makoto Hiejima made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 28 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
After finishing dead last in 2018, Brisbane said goodbye to Adam Gibson (to South East Melbourne), Shaun Bruce (to Sydney), and Anthony Petrie (retired) and went on a recruiting drive that brought in Boomers sharpshooter Cameron Gliddon (via Cairns), Jason Cadee (via Sydney), Matt Hodgson (via Adelaide), Tom Jervis (via Perth), and Mika Vukona (via New Zealand). The Bullets also welcomed back Rio Olympian and former Chicago Bull Cam Bairstow, who was returning after a knee reconstruction, added Makoto Hiejima under the NBL’s Asian Player rule, making him the first Japanese player to sign with an NBL team, and added NBA veteran Alonzo Gee (via Puerto Rico) as an import.
These key signings were meant to bolster Brisbane’s roster as they prepared for a tough start to the season, with 12 of their first 15 games coming against last season’s top-four playoff teams.
Makoto Hiejima’s stint with Brisbane was brief. Despite the hype surrounding his signing, he played in only three games for the Bullets, logging no points, rebounds, or assists. After seeing limited opportunities on the court, Brisbane replaced Hiejima in January with import AJ Davis (4.1 points 2.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists) to further strengthen their roster.
Despite Hiejima’s early exit, Brisbane was led by Lamar Patterson (17.8 points 6.2 rebounds 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals), Cameron Gliddon (13.7 points 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists), and Cam Bairstow (11.6 points 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists). Reuben Te Rangi (9.9 points 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists) won the league’s Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year awards.
Brisbane finished the regular season tied with Adelaide (14-14) but secured the fourth spot due to a higher points percentage and advanced to the playoffs where they would lose to Perth in the semi-finals (0-2).
Makoto Hiejima played one season in the NBL.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 28 | Brisbane | 14-14 (4) | 3 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 | Totals | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0% | 0% | 0 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 28 | Brisbane | 14-14 (4) | 3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 | Total | 3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0% | 0% | 0 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Makoto was a part of Japans national team for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Japan would fail to win a game (0-5) and finish the tournament ranked 31st out of 32 teams.
Makoto would again represent Japan at the 2020 Olympic Games (Japan) where the team would again fail to win a game (0-3) and finish the tournament in eleventh place.
Makoto was a part of the Japanese national team that competed at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and finished in 19th place (3-2 record).
FIBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 33 | 5 | 73 | 47 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 28 | 53.6% | 8 | 14 | 57.1% | 9 | 11 | 81.8% |
| 2020 | 30 | 3 | 54 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 21 | 47.6% | 3 | 9 | 33.3% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 2019 | 29 | 5 | 90 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 28 | 32.1% | 2 | 10 | 20.0% | 2 | 4 | 50.0% | Total | 13 | 217 | 92 | 22 | 20 | 6 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 5 | 17 | 34 | 77 | 44% | 13 | 33 | 39% | 11 | 15 | 73% |
FIBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 33 | 5 | 14.6 | 9.4 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 5.6 | 53.6% | 1.6 | 2.8 | 57.1% | 1.8 | 2.2 | 81.8% |
| 2020 | 30 | 3 | 18.0 | 7.7 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 7.0 | 47.6% | 1.0 | 3.0 | 33.3% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% |
| 2019 | 29 | 5 | 18.0 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 5.6 | 32.1% | 0.4 | 2.0 | 20.0% | 0.4 | 0.8 | 50.0% | Total | 13 | 16.7 | 7.1 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 5.9 | 44% | 1.0 | 2.5 | 39% | 0.8 | 1.2 | 73% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Japan - Aisin SeaHorses Mikawa (2013–2018), Link Tochigi Brex (2019), Utsunomiya Brex (2019–2025)
Makoto Hiejima played with the Aisin SeaHorses Mikawa in 2013 after graduating from Aoyama Gakuin University, earning Japanese NBL Rookie of the Year honours in 2013/14 and helping the club win the 2014/15 NBL championship.
He transitioned with the club into the newly formed B.League and played a central role in SeaHorses Mikawa winning the West Division (46–14) in 2016/17 during the league’s inaugural campaign, before finishing first in the Central Division (48–12) in 2017/18, when he was named B.League MVP after averaging 12.9 points, 4.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds across 55 games.
In July 2018, Hiejima signed a five-year deal with Link Tochigi Brex.
As part of his deal with the Brex, he was free to pursue higher-level opportunities elsewhere and return to Tochigi at any time. The following month, he signed with the Brisbane Bullets under the League Asian Player rule.
On January 5, 2019, he was released by the Bullets. Four days later, he joined Link Tochigi Brex for the rest of the season.
Following the club’s rebrand to Utsunomiya Brex in 2019, Hiejima remained with the organisation and was instrumental in securing the 2021/22 B.League championship, earning Finals MVP honours after leading the team in scoring in the decisive game of the Finals series against Ryukyu. He later added another B.League title in 2024/25 as Utsunomiya defeated Ryukyu 2–1 in the championship series, and during that season he averaged 13.2 points per game while shooting 44.3 percent from three-point range, with the roster also featuring Isaac Fotu and Grant Jerrett.
COLLEGE
Makoto Hiejima attended Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, Japan, where he played university-level basketball before embarking on his professional career. During his time with Aoyama Gakuin, he won the Japan university national title back to back.
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