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Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Dec 12, 2015

Fukushima’s Nash making big impact

His name isn't LeBron James, but his play, like the NBA legend's, captivates a pro basketball league's audience. And many of his performances in October, November and early December have been among the best of the 2015-16 bj-league season.
WORLD
Nov 13, 2015

Guinness World Records Day finds dogs on skateboards, candle-eaters, speed crawlers

From a dog skateboarding through a tunnel of human legs to a man holding lit candles in his mouth, people around the world have been marking Guinness World Records Day with a range of quirky feats.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Oct 29, 2015

Oketani learning from former Chicago Bulls coach Cartwright

The Osaka Evessa made a big hire during the offseason, luring Dai Oketani, the winningest coach in bj-league history, to return to his Kansai roots.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 26, 2015

Sharpshooter Aoki leads Rizing past Bambitious

Old reliable Cohey Aoki remains one of the few constants in an ever-changing Japan basketball landscape.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Oct 15, 2015

Retooled Shimane makes strong start

After a dreadful start, the Shimane Susanoo Magic became one of the league's most improved teams as the 2014-15 season marched on.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Oct 15, 2015

Odom 'took cocaine' before hospitalization

Basketball and reality TV star Lamar Odom was reportedly fighting for his life in a Las Vegas hospital on Wednesday after he was found unresponsive at a legal brothel, where employees said he used cocaine and a sexual performance-enhancing supplement, a sheriff said.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Oct 9, 2015

Golden Kings to retire Newton's No. 50

The Ryukyu Golden Kings will honor league legend Jeff Newton during their Nov. 7-8 series against the Rizing Fukuoka at Okinawa City Gymnasium, retiring his No. 50 jersey.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Sep 17, 2015

Well-traveled Cousin joins Brave Warriors

Well-traveled big man Marcus Cousin, who patrolled the middle for the Kyoto Hannaryz during the 2012-13 campaign, has finalized a deal to play for the Shinshu Brave Warriors this season, according to published reports on Wednesday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Sep 13, 2015

NBL squads sweep Dream Games

Sunday's Dream Games presented a glimpse of the entertainment and talent that will be in the spotlight in the fall of 2016, when the Japan Professional Basketball League makes its debut.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Sep 10, 2015

Elite teams await weekend showcase

Sunday's four-game showcase featuring a quartet of accomplished NBL and bj-league teams has a fancy title: the Dream Games.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Sep 7, 2015

Japan's Asian hoop champs return home

One day after they became the first Japanese team to clinch a berth at next summer's Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the players and staff of Japan's women's basketball team made a triumphant return home with the gold medals around their necks on Sunday evening.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Aug 15, 2015

Japan men bounce back against Czech Republic

A stingy defensive effort by the Japan men's basketball team paid off as the home team cruised past the Czech Republic 65-54 in the second game of their three-game exhibition series at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 2 on Saturday.
BASKETBALL
Jul 7, 2015

All-Star Game slated for Jan. 24

The bj-league's 10th All-Star Game will be held at Sendai's Xebio Arena on Jan. 24, 2016, it was announced on Tuesday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jun 23, 2015

Grouses bringing Nash back for fourth season

Veteran bench boss Bob Nash, who has led the Toyama Grouses to sustained success since 2012, is returning to lead the bj-league club for the 2015-16 campaign.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jun 15, 2015

Japan thinking long-term with Asia Championship provisional squad

The Japan men's national basketball team certainly wants to change its low credit rating on the international stage. It may not happen right away, but some unique talent makes it possible in the future.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jun 2, 2015

Japanese standout Watanabe eager to show growth for GW

Japanese basketball phenom Yuta Watanabe is currently back in Japan, using the break between semesters at George Washington University to spend some cherished time with his family and friends. He's also stayed busy working out and keeping up with media appearances.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
May 29, 2015

Oketani leaves Iwate Big Bulls after three seasons at the helm

After three successful seasons in charge, Iwate Big Bulls coach Dai Oketani's tenure has ended, the Eastern Conference club announced on Friday evening.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 28, 2015

Nakamura set to take over in Niigata; Togashi in plans

After a season away, Kazuo Nakamura, now 74, is launching the next chapter in his long head coaching career. He will become the Niigata Albirex BB's new head coach, multiple sources have told The Japan Times.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
May 17, 2015

Hitachi forces decisive Game 3 against Toyota in NBL semifinals

The Hitachi Sunrockers snapped an epic winning streak by the Toyota Alvark.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 14, 2015

League legend Newton reveals he's decided to retire

Jeff Newton, the winningest player in league history, has quietly retired.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
May 12, 2015

Grizzlies making noise in playoffs old-school style

Sitting on a bluff above the mighty Mississippi River is Memphis, a sleepy southern United States city known for not much more than its savory barbecue meats, being the home of famous rock and roll singer Elvis Presley and for the blues, the music celebrated in the city's history and on downtown Beale...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
May 5, 2015

Sunrockers make dramatic turnaround this season, eye NBL title

The Hitachi Sunrockers entered this season, having improved their roster with some key acquisitions, while they hired a new head coach.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Apr 30, 2015

Sendai's Johnson named MVP; Kyoto's Hamaguchi nabs coaching award

Since he made his debut in the fall, star guard Kejuan Johnson has excelled for the Sendai 89ers, leading the team to its best-ever regular season (37-15).
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Apr 17, 2015

Watanabe looks back on freshman season with GW

There have been only a few players who hailed from Japan to have played hoops at NCAA D-I level. So perhaps no one really knew what sort of expectations to have of Yuta Watanabe in his first season at George Washington University.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 16, 2015

Balance, team defense are powering Niigata

The Niigata Albirex BB don't have a player in the league's top 10 in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals or blocks.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Apr 14, 2015

Kerr employing Jackson's philosophy with Warriors

Sometimes the basketball congnoscenti will mock the Phil Jackson coaching tree as a withered oak in winter, assistants like Jim Cleamons, Kurt Rambis and most recently Brian Shaw with short head coaching tenures.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 9, 2015

Shiga's Toyama relies on mentor to improve Lakestars

Championship experience dots the Shiga Lakestars roster.
BASKETBALL
Mar 29, 2015

bj-league lifts ban on JT

The professional basketball bj-league has rescinded its ban on media access by The Japan Times with immediate effect. The ban was instituted on Oct. 11, 2013, and continued for more than 17 months.

Longform

Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear