Ryuji Aoki set to launch pro career with Shinshu Brave Warriors
Ryuji Aoki will begin his pro basketball career with the Shinshu Brave Warriors. The defending B. League second-division champions made the announcement on Wednesday, giving the cerebral guard a chance to begin his pro career in his homeland. The 21-year-old Aoki, who was born in Aichi ...
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 ...
Defense, determination fuel Shimane's success, second-flight title hopes
With an eye on promotion to the first division for the 2017-18 season, the Shimane Susanoo Magic have excelled with a unified focus throughout the current campaign. Second-year bench boss Michael Katsuhisa has guided Shimane to 39 wins in the club's first 46 games, the ...
Aoki, Maki cherished chance to play for Hill
Second in a three-part series For the team's inaugural 2005-06 season in the bj-league, the Tokyo Apache hired a head coach with a catchy nickname and a globally renowned son named after a Japanese delicacy. Yes, Kobe's father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant. The elder Bryant, who starred at ...
Surging Iwate in thick of playoff race after slow start
Riding a six-game winning streak, the Iwate Big Bulls have climbed closer to the top in the jam-packed Eastern Conference playoff race. Five foes have 20 or more wins in the East, but sixth-place Iwate (19-15) finds itself in solid position to make a push ...
Kyoto's Palmer brings end to long career in Japan
Kyoto Hannaryz forward David Palmer on Monday revealed that he's decided to retire — effective immediately. He said he made up his mind in early November, citing injuries and various physical ailments as factors that led to this decision. Palmer told The Japan Times in ...
As the summer marches on and the start of training camp gets closer and closer, it appears that the defending champion Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix will not have a roster resembling the one that captured the title in May. Star guard Nile Murry, the playoff MVP ...
Late trainer Tanaka recalled fondly by coaches, players
The Gunma Crane Thunders have lost their beloved athletic trainer and translator Takashi "T" Tanaka. The third-year franchise had played just 136 games in its history before the Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture, native passed away last Thursday. Internal bleeding in his brain triggered his death. But, by ...
Ishikawa comes up with interesting team name
When the bj-league's 11th season begins in the fall, the new Ishikawa Prefecture-based team will have one of the most unique names in all of pro sports — in Asia and beyond. The expansion team's name — Kanazawa Samurai Orchestra — was revealed on Wednesday, Team ...
Ryukyu's McHenry plays pivotal role for dominant defensive squad
Lockdown defense fuels championship teams. Defense was a key component of the Ryukyu Golden Kings' three championship teams, first in the 2008-09 season, then again in the 2011-12 campaign and repeated last season. The league's rapid growth — nonstop expansion for a decade has made statistical ...
Kusaka's All-Star selection a disservice to more deserving
Being picked as an All-Star starter should be reserved for players having All-Star-caliber seasons. Sure, the popularity of a player factors into the equation, but there's no legitimate reason for a player who has basically become an afterthought to be named an All-Star starter. Unfortunately, bj-league ...
Blackwell out at struggling Gunma
The Gunma Crane Thunders opened the season with three victories in their first 19 games. Saturday's 93-78 loss to the Shinshu Brave Warriors was the final straw for head coach Ryan Blackwell. It cost him his job, bj-league sources told The Japan Times. Blackwell was ...
