Journeyman Kazuya "J." Hatano was a steady contributor during the Osaka Evessa dynasty years.

The hard-working forward earned a trio of championship rings as part of the bj-league's first powerhouse team under bench boss Kensaku Tennichi.

Nearly a decade later, Hatano is still collecting a paycheck for doing the same things: battling in front of the basket and competing for rebounds in the lane. No one claimed it's an easy way to make a living.