With each passing season, perpetual change on team rosters means dozens of foreign players come and go. And it's become quite rare for foreign players to spend a large chunk of their careers in the bj-league.
Sure, the league has expanded rapidly — from six teams in 2005-06 to 21 for the upcoming season, which tips off in October — but player movement remains as common as humming cicadas in August. Here today, gone tomorrow; a bigger paycheck in another country is often a factor.
Kyoto's David Palmer, Ryukyu's Jeff Newton and Saitama's John "Helicopter" Humphrey form a fraternity of three, the trio of import players who were in the league in 2005 and are on team rosters for the 2013-14 campaign.