Former UCLA, Japan pro basketball player Billy Knight dies in suicide after abuse charges
The basketball world is mourning the passing of Billy Knight. The death of the former UCLA basketball shooting guard, whose long overseas career included stints with four pro teams in Japan, has sent shock waves throughout the sport. The Los Angeles native, who was 39, ...
Point guard Narito Namizato rejoins Golden Kings
Veteran playmaker Narito Namizato is returning to the Ryukyu Golden Kings after plying his craft the past three seasons in Kansai. On Monday, the Golden Kings announced that the Okinawa native will play for them in the upcoming season. Namizato, still in his prime at age ...
Earthfriends Tokyo Z hand coaching reins to Satoru Furuta
Less than a year after being dismissed as Yokohama B-Corsairs head coach, former Japan national team center/power forward Satoru Furuta is back as a sideline supervisor. On Tuesday, the second-division Earthfriends Tokyo Z handed the coaching reins to the Aichi Prefecture native. Furuta, who played for ...
Lakestars build large lead, hold off Evessa in fourth quarter
Playing for pride against a Kansai rival, the Shiga Lakestars ushered in the weekend with a hard-earned victory over the Osaka Evessa on Saturday evening. The Lakestars shot 54.4 percent from the floor and needed every bucket — all 37 of them — in an ...
Evessa too hot for Albirex to handle
The Osaka Evessa offense fired on all cylinders on Sunday against the Niigata Albirex BB. Osaka's quick, proficient scoring proved too much for the visitors to handle in the series finale as the Evessa rolled to a 107-85 victory. Sharpshooter Naoya Kumagae delivered a crowd-pleasing ...
Nagoya's Takaya Sasayama makes huge difference on defense in triumph over Osaka
Takaya Sasayama's fast hands and quick feet produced big results on Saturday afternoon. The Nagoya Diamond Dolphins star led all players with six steals — no one else had more than two — and made an impact in other facets of the game, too. Nagoya cruised ...
NeoPhoenix star Robert Dozier provides leadership, confidence for club
With power forward Robert Dozier in the lineup, the San-en NeoPhoenix are a more complete team. A more balanced team. A more dangerous team. Dozier improves San-en's offense and defense and rhythm at both ends of the floor. A natural leader, the veteran is a tone-setter ...
Second-division powerhouse Northern Happinets overpower Orange Vikings for 15th straight victory
The B2 title-chasing Akita Northern Happinets collected their 15th consecutive victory on Friday night. Captain Shigehiro Taguchi and Wichita State alum Kadeem Coleby scored 21 points apiece to lead the second division-leading Northern Happinets to a 102-91 triumph over the Ehime Orange Vikings. Akita (37-4) improved ...
Hassan Martin ignites Golden Kings in fourth-quarter surge against Evessa
The Ryukyu Golden Kings relied on steady forward Hassan Martin in a big way down the stretch on Friday night. The impressive rookie scored all 12 of his points in the fourth quarter and the title-chasing Golden Kings raced past the visiting Osaka Evessa, winning ...
Hiroyuki Kinoshita sparks Evessa in comeback victory over Susanoo Magic
Osaka's Hiroyuki Kinoshita had the hot hand in the decisive third quarter. Kinoshita had a team-best nine points in the third, including two big 3-pointers, to spark the Evessa to a 70-58 road win over the Shimane Susanoo Magic. He finished with 13 points on ...
Victorious Brave Thunders see large lead evaporate down the stretch against rival Jets
The Kawasaki Brave Thunders jumped out to a big lead in the second and third quarters, then held off the pesky Chiba Jets Funabashi down the stretch on Friday. The Brave Thunders recorded an 87-80 victory over their East Division rival at Todoroki Arena. Chiba, which ...
The Ryukyu Golden Kings' potent inside-outside scoring attack worked effectively in a runaway victory over the host Osaka Evessa on Friday night. The Golden Kings knocked down 10 3-pointers, including Ryuichi Kishimoto's 5-for-5 output, in a 72-51 decision. Ryukyu All-Star forward Ira Brown sank three 3s ...
