Just as the Japan Basketball League is preparing to re-brand itself as the National Basketball League (NBL) for 2013-14, it is also coping with the planned loss of one of Japan's most successful basketball clubs, the Panasonic Trians.

Panasonic Corp.'s financial woes — losses of ¥772.1 billion for the fiscal year ending in March — triggered the recent decision to pull the plug on the Trians, ending a team that has had an important role in the sport's development here.

Paul Westhead was the first former NBA head coach (Lakers, Bulls, Nuggets) to lead a JBL team. He guided Panasonic from 2001-03, and was an influential figure in Kensaku Tennichi's development as a head coach.