The defending champion Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix's two best players last season, bj-league MVP Wendell White and Billy Knight, are now playing for the Kyoto Hannaryz and Osaka Evessa, respectively.

These players could lead their new teams to the Final Four.

New players will fill those roles for the Phoenix this season. But it'll be difficult for them to replicate the all-around brilliance and leadership both players provided for coach Kazuo Nakamura's club last season.