The Kumamoto Volters are a team on a mission. Sure, winning games is a top priority. But it's an objective trumped by their ongoing quest to play in the first division next season. So far, so good. The Kyushu-based club is first overall in the 18-team ...
Optimism is the common emotion shared by all teams as the new season unfolds in the early stages. Players, coaches and fans are fired up to be a part of something new, something unified after a directionless decade for Japan pro basketball. There's also been an ...
Richard Roby, a driving force behind the Akita Northern Happinets' success over the past three seasons, brings his high-octane offensive output to the San-en NeoPhoenix for the launch of a new era. When the B. League tips off later this month, the team formerly called ...
In the Ryukyu Golden Kings' infancy, before the team made multiple championship game appearances, Shigeyuki Kinjo was one of the league's most exciting, explosive Japanese backcourt stars. The Okinawa native had a real gift for taking — and making — gutsy shots and a riverboat ...
Whenever he steps onto a basketball court, Reggie Warren's fierce desire to win is a recognizable trait. Since 2006, the veteran power forward has been a key piece to the puzzle for five bj-league franchises: Takamatsu Five Arrows (2006-08), Saitama Broncos (2008-09), Kyoto Hannaryz (2010-11, ...
Tenacity and rock-solid fundamentals fuel top defenses. What else makes them click? An intense desire to limit foes' scoring chances and high-percentage shots and keeping their point totals down, too. With about one-third of the season in the books, several teams have emerged as the league's elite ...
The defending champion Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix drained 19 3-pointers in a runaway 109-63 triumph over the Bambitious Nara on Monday afternoon in the bj-league. The Western Conference-leading Phoenix (13-3 overall, 8-2 at home) led 25-10 after one quarter and 51-26 at halftime, and were never ...
Reggie Warren, one of the premier players in bj-league history, will suit up for the defending champion Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix in the circuit's final campaign. The Phoenix, who entered last season's playoffs as the Western Conference's No. 3 seed, made the announcement over the weekend. Warren ...
Since he made his debut in the fall, star guard Kejuan Johnson has excelled for the Sendai 89ers, leading the team to its best-ever regular season (37-15). Kyoto Hannaryz head coach Honoo Hamaguchi, meanwhile, guided the Kansai club to a bj-league record 44-8 regular-season mark. The ...
Weeks ago, the Kyoto Hannaryz set a team record for regular-season triumphs with win No. 35. Since then, they've just kept on winning. In fact, they've had one losing streak this season — two games. Kyoto won its 40th game on Sunday, handing the visiting Shimane ...
During the past four seasons of major personnel changes for the Sendai 89ers, veteran guard Takehiko Shimura has been the one constant on the club's roster. He's the lone player still on the club who competed under original 89ers bench boss Honoo Hamaguchi in the ...
It's not every day that you see a 202-cm forward wearing a pink headband during a men's pro basketball game. First of all, it doesn't fit the macho image of the game. So, of course, it's an unusual sight. But that didn't stop Reggie Warren, a ...
