FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann repeatedly stated that the Japan Basketball Association's "lack of vision" is a fundamental problem stunting the sport's development throughout the nation.
During a Thursday morning news conference, Baumann spoke with an authoritative tone about serious issues facing the Japan Basketball Association, which was suspended by basketball's world governing body on Nov. 25. And he said that a task force will work to reform the JBA and develop a plan for a merger between the NBL and the bj-league, Japan's rival men's leagues.
The to-be-created task force will include one FIBA executive and up to 10 people, with a plan to finalize the group's members in mid-to-late January, with a first meeting scheduled in Tokyo for later in the month. Business experts are also expected to be included within the group. (Former J. League chairman Saburo Kawabuchi will be on the task force, according to published reports.)