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 ...
An earthquake that struck Southern California forced the NBA to postpone the finish of a Summer League game between New Orleans and New York on Friday night. The Knicks-Pelicans game, the NBA debut for No. 1 pick Zion Williamson of New Orleans, was called with ...
Free agency moves shake up NBA; Rui Hachimura agrees to rookie contract
Kawhi Leonard's uncertain NBA free agency fate kept three teams in limbo Monday as players continued to make deals to shake up the league landscape. Players and teams began agreeing to terms on new deals Sunday even though no contracts can be signed until Saturday. Leonard, ...
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 ...
SeaHorses hold off Levanga down the stretch
Mikawa's Takanobu Nishikawa scored a season-best 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting on Friday night. The SeaHorses also dominated on the boards in an 84-77 victory over the visiting Levanga Hokkaido. Isaac Butts, J.R. Sakuragi and Ko Kumagai added 15 points apiece for the SeaHorses (15-15) in ...
Japan dominates second half in rout of Qatar
The Akatsuki Five received a tough challenge from Qatar early but wound up posting a 85-47 victory in a FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier at Toyama City Gymnasium on Friday night. The Japan men's national team (5-4) extended its winning streak in the preliminaries to ...
