Leading their teams to three consecutive Final Fours, Ryukyu's Dai Oketani and Hamamatsu Higashimikawa's Kazuo Nakamura have earned respect from their coaching peers and helped set the standard of excellence for which all future bj-league coaches will be judged.
Former Osaka coach Kensaku Tennichi, a winner of three titles and five Final Four appearances, and ex-Tokyo bench boss Joe Bryant, who took his team to back-to-back finals, are also recognized as playing an important role as sideline mentors in the bj-league's formative years.
Current Evessa coach Ryan Blackwell recognizes that Oketani and Nakamura understand what it takes to be successful.