TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japan Basketball Association will appoint a liaison to improve communication with overseas-based players in response to the heavy criticism of its operations by men's national team star Rui Hachimura, JBA President Yuko Mitsuya said Saturday.

The JBA has sought to repair relations with the Los Angeles Lakers forward after he said it lacked a "player-first mentality" while also questioning the recent reappointment of men's team head coach Tom Hovasse in a series of comments to the media.

"It is our responsibility as an organization to create an environment where players can feel at ease and focus on playing. We need to improve communication," Mitsuya told reporters in Tokyo.

"The players also have agents, and with so many intermediaries, it was unclear whether our intentions were being properly communicated."

Mitsuya said the JBA did not directly contact Hachimura throughout the NBA season, per the player's request, but maintained communication via his agent.

On Nov. 23, Hachimura told reporters he was prepared to quit the national team if the JBA did not change its management approach, saying it was "not player-first, but profit-first."

He also said Akatsuki Japan was "not managed at the world level" under Hovasse, who previously led the women's national team to silver at the Tokyo Olympics.

Mitsuya said she was "willing to accept the criticism," while the JBA was making "utmost efforts" to bridge the divide between Hachimura and Hovasse.

Former Memphis Grizzlies and current Japan swingman Yuta Watanabe on Thursday said he hoped to help smooth things between Hachimura and the coach, who he backed to remain in charge.