Japan star Hiejima confident Bullets will fire

JAPANESE sharpshooter Makoto Hiejima has urged Bullets fans to keep the faith in him and Brisbane in the NBL season starting this week.

Hiejima joined the Bullets in the off-season as the reigning MVP of the Japanese league and the money-man for the national side that upset the Boomers in a FIBA World Cup qualifying match in July.

But in a handful of preseason games with Brisbane, the shooting guard is yet to reproduce the instant offence that made him a star in his homeland.

Hiejima does not speak English and has two translators who rotate through training sessions to pass on instructions from Brisbane coaching staff.

If he can capture the confidence, aggression and accuracy he shows in a Japanese team singlet, he could become a cult hero for the Brisbane faithful.

The 28-year-old said that, just like the Bullets as a whole, the longer the season goes, the better he will go.

“There are a lot of new players at the Bullets this year and we have not spent that much time together so our performances will improve as the season continues,’’ Hiejima said through a translator.

“I want to show the Bullets fans what I can do.

“The NBL is a very physical league. It’s very tough compared to the professional league in Japan so every day I learn something new.

“I was struggling at the start but I feel like I’m starting to see some progress.

“I knew when I came to Australia I would have to start from scratch but I want to prove to the team that I can contribute and help make the team successful.’’

The Bullets will take on New Zealand in Auckland on Thursday to open their season.

Hiejima represented Brisbane at yesterday’s NBL season launch in Sydney, where Kings star Andrew Bogut dismissed hype that his side is the best side assembled in NBL history.

Bogut plays his first game for Sydney on Saturday when the Kings host Adelaide.