Akita, Shimane are model local teams
Japan's pro basketball landscape completely changed during the bj-league's 11 seasons of operations. From six franchises in its inaugural 2005-06 season to 24 in the final year, new teams sprouted up every year throughout the nation. And so it's worth noting that the 2019-20 campaign ...
Debora Zoli blazing a trail for female sports agents with ability, charisma
Building relationships is a vital part of being a successful pro sports agent. Sustaining relationships is equally important, but it's an often trickier task in the cutthroat world of pro basketball. After all, agents come and go in this ultra-competitive business, and maintaining trust and ...
Shiga finds going tough early on
After a month of games, there are two 1-7 teams in the B. League's 18-team first division. And they are both vying to climb out of the cellar. The Central Division's Toyama Grouses, last season's bj-league championship runner-up squad, has stumbled out of the gate ...
Title aspirations collide for Final Four teams
This time, there's a new look on the grand stage. In the upstart circuit's 10th Final Four, three of the four participants have a shot at winning a title for the first time, while the other club could claim its third championship and become the ...
Roby powering Akita with strong all-around game
The Akita Northern Happinets (14-4) have played nearly one-third of their 52-game schedule, and forward Richard Roby is having an MVP-caliber season. Need proof? Roby is among the league's top 10 in four categories: scoring (18.7 points per game, seventh overall), assists (4.0, tied for 10th), ...
Mavericks sign Togashi to contract; D-League assignment expected
The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent guard Yuki Togashi to a contact, the NBA team announced on Wednesday. After Togashi showcased his offensive skills in four games during the NBA Las Vegas Summer League in July, including 12 points in 11 minutes against the ...
Gunma hires longtime NBA assistant Parker as new coach
Charlie Parker, who spent more than a decade as an NBA assistant coach, this week was named the Gunma Crane Thunders' new bench boss. Entering their third season, Gunma handed its coaching reins to a well-traveled, experienced mentor to build a winning foundation. Parker received a ...
Happinets' Boykin reflects on season
In his many decades in the game, Kazuo Nakamura tinkered with an up-tempo style of basketball he wanted his teams to play. And in recent years, it often involved several of his players taking quick 3-point shots as often as possible. Nakamura's run-and-gun style produced ...
The stars have aligned for a special basketball season in Akita. Just ask any of the Akita Northern Happinets' die-hard fans. Coach Kazuo Nakamura's club is 16-2 entering this weekend and the Happinets are hosting the 2013-14 bj-league All-Star Game on Jan. 26. Expect a nice ...
