Fans select Takehiko Orimo for All-Star Game
Stars from the Japan national team and domestic legend Takehiko Orimo will headline the roster for the upcoming B. League All-Star Game in Sapporo, organizers revealed on Monday. Each side consists of five starters chosen through fan voting and six others selected by the league. ...
Brex dominate Albirex early to win on the road
The Utsunomiya Brex used a 21-0 run in the first quarter to seize control of their game against the Niigata Albirex BB on Sunday. The big scoring spurt started with a Jeff Gibbs inside bucket with 6:08 to play in the quarter. It ended with ...
Alvark make key plays in final minute, beat rival Brex in series opener
The Alvark Tokyo displayed patience and poise throughout Friday's series opener against the Utsunomiya Brex. The two-time defending champions came through in the clutch in the pivotal moments of the fourth quarter, winning 73-72 at Brex Arena. Tokyo center Alex Kirk nailed a go-ahead inside jumper ...
Brex, Brave Thunders ready for season-opening clash
The B. League has wrapped up its season with championship games at Yokohama Arena, one of the best venues for basketball in Japan, in each the last two years. Now, the Japanese men's pro circuit has decided to use the arena to open a new ...
Expectations rise for Japan at 32-team FIBA World Cup
Making its fifth-ever appearance at the FIBA World Cup, Japan will dispatch arguably its best-ever squad on the global stage. While rough challenges are awaiting the team, which will face some of the world's elites in the 32-nation tourney in China, the Akatsuki Five are ...
Japan coach Julio Lamas outlines team's goals for FIBA Basketball World Cup
Japan men's national team head coach Julio Lamas insisted that there will be uphill battles for the Akatsuki Five at the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, but said that he certainly hopes the team comes up with its best-ever results. One day after ...
Summer League players help boost NBA abroad
After an NBA Board of Governors meeting earlier this week, commissioner Adam Silver addressed the media, and that gathering in New York included an assessment of the rise in Japanese players during the ongoing NBA Summer League. The commissioner also commented on the positive impact ...
Antonio Lang enjoying Summer League coaching challenge, seeing growth of Japanese basketball
One familiar face for Japanese basketball fans is currently serving as a head coach during the ongoing NBA Summer League. Antonio Lang, a former long-time player and coach in Japan, is leading the wannabe Cleveland Cavaliers team here. Antonio Lang was hired by the Cleveland Cavaliers ...
NeoPhoenix turn to veteran coach Brian Rowsom in quest to make playoffs
The San-en NeoPhoenix's victory total has decreased in each season of the B. League era. Therefore, team management decided it was time to make a coaching change, opting for a more experienced mentor to pilot the team. Brian Rowsom, who guided the CLS Knights Indonesia to ...
Makoto Hiejima, Nick Fazekas bring Japan to brink of World Cup berth
A hot-shooting 24-point, six-assist game from Makoto Hiejima pushed Japan past Iran and to the brink of World Cup qualification on Thursday. Hiejima came up big in the 97-89 victory in Tehran, with Japan's naturalized center Nick Fazekas continuing his fine play since his return ...
Jets, Brex continue heavyweight battle for superiority
Talk about excellent timing. After their thrilling Emperor's Cup final that went to overtime on Sunday afternoon at Saitama Super Arena, the title-chasing Chiba Jets Funabashi and Tochigi Brex staged a rematch on Wednesday night. Indeed, there was a buzz far greater than a typical regular-season ...
Makoto Hiejima never found comfort zone with Brisbane Bullets
Several factors contributed to 2017-18 B. League MVP's Makoto Hiejima lack of playing time and abrupt departure from the NBL club Brisbane Bullets in Australia last week, The Japan Times has learned. The Japan Times reached out to several well-informed basketball sources in Australia to ...
