You’ve heard it before — probably too many times:

“We don’t have enough funding.”

And just like that, we fall into a predictable cycle: no money, no progress. No progress, no change. Stuck in mediocrity.

But what if this entire mindset is flawed from the start?

Talent Over Money: Japan’s Quiet Revolution

After attending the East Asia Super League Basketball (EASL) Summit recently, I had the privilege of spending two insightful hours with Chihiro Saito, Head of International Development Group at Japan’s B.League. One point came through loud and clear:

Japan’s basketball revival wasn’t primarily about massive funding.

Yes, they had initial backing from SoftBank — about USD $11 million over four years — but that wasn’t the magic bullet. The real game-changer?

People. Exceptional people.

As Kazumasa Ashihara, the B.League’s first Secretary General, put it in his book “Making Money Is Everything: Why the B.League Is the Ultimate Business Model,” the foundation of their success was human capital (人財) — not just human resources (人材).

Ashihara makes a critical distinction:

• Human resources are individuals who need to be trained and developed.
• Human capital are people who already have the skills, mindsets, and execution ability to make an immediate impact.

The Myth of “Not Enough Money”

In Malaysia, every conversation about basketball development eventually circles back to money.

“If only we had the money,” is the recurring lament from coaches, officials, and fans alike.

But here’s a thought:

What if the true currency of sports success isn’t money — but talent?

Money helps, sure. But without the right people, money is just paper.

With the right people, even limited funding becomes a launchpad.

Japan Didn’t Just Spend — They Recruited Strategically

When Japan launched the B.League in 2016, they didn’t throw money around and hope for the best. They invested wisely, intentionally targeting something more valuable—“human capital.”

The decisive factor was having the right people who were capable of executing ideas effectively and efficiently.

Ashihara didn’t just hire basketball insiders. For his first three recruitments, he brought in:

• Marketing expert from baseball,
• PR Specialist with no experience in sports,
• Sales expert from baseball.

Why? Because innovation rarely comes from those who are stuck inside traditional mindsets.

Basketball Insiders Can’t See the Bigger Game

In Malaysia, there's a deeply ingrained belief:

“To work in basketball, you must understand basketball.”

It sounds reasonable. But it’s also limiting — dangerously so. It creates a feedback loop where the same ideas, the same people, and the same limitations keep repeating.

Ashihara intentionally broke that cycle. He hired people precisely because they weren't from basketball — so they could see opportunities others couldn’t. Fresh eyes. New angles. Better execution.

Basketball knowledge matters — but vision, strategy, and execution matter more.

The Real Budget Problem Isn’t What You Think

One of the biggest pushbacks I hear is:

“Japan can attract top talent because they have money.”

But here’s the twist:

Without investing in the right people, no amount of money guarantees success.

The Japanese understood this better than anyone. With limited resources, every hire becomes even more critical. You can't afford to get it wrong.

So ask yourself this:

The real question isn't how much money you have, but how wisely you spend the money you do have.

We Don’t Lack Talent — We Just Need to Look Differently

I believe there are plenty of capable individuals out there — in marketing, tech, business, media — people who can bring immediate value to basketball.

We just need to look beyond our usual circles and open the door.

Actionable Steps for Malaysia: Start Small, Think Bold

Want to take the first step toward transformation? Start here:

• Identify Key Roles​
  Marketing, PR, operations — these aren’t “support roles,” they’re core drivers of growth.
• Recruit from Outside Basketball​
  Bring in professionals with strong execution track records, even if they’ve never touched a basketball.
• Hire for Impact, Not Just Potential​
  Prioritize people who can hit the ground running, not just those who can learn over time.
• Champion Youth and Diversity​
  Younger talent and women often bring fresh, innovative perspectives — and Malaysian basketball needs more of both.

Let’s be real — if Steve Jobs had only hired engineers who’d built rotary phones, we’d still be carrying pagers with antennas.

Fresh thinking builds breakthroughs — not familiarity.

It’s Time to Shift the Mindset

In Malaysia, we’re so focused on budget constraints, we miss the bigger picture.

We have the talent. We have the creativity. But we’re looking in all the wrong places.

It’s time to stop saying, “We don’t have money for talent.”

And start asking, “Can we afford NOT to invest in talent?”

The Future Depends on Who We Hire

If we’re serious about changing the future of Malaysian basketball, it starts with who we bring in — not just on the court, but in the rooms where decisions get made.

So here’s the real question: Are we bold enough to bet on talent — even if it means stepping outside our comfort zone?

Reflect on it. Talk about it.

Our future may just depend on how we answer.

Thanks for reading.

— Jordan

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