Kobe Bryant: His legacy in Japan
What does Kobe Bryant mean to Japan's basketball culture? Simply put, he was the most popular player here since Michael Jordan retired for good in 2003. He was the biggest star of the 21st century, and the player whose presence was missed the most at ...
Swift's comeback bid continues with tryout
Robert Swift's attempt to revive his pro basketball career continues. More than five-and-a-half years after playing his final professional game for the Tokyo Apache, the veteran center is vying to make a comeback in the NBA Development League. On Sunday, Swift participated in a workout, including ...
Aoki leaves lasting legacy on Japan hoops
Whenever he stepped on the court during 11 distinguished seasons as a special ambassador for Japan pro basketball, Cohey Aoki increased the visibility of the sport. Fans loved watching him play, and rightfully so. He displayed a pure joy for the game, but exhibited a ...
Nonstop growth, inept management were constant problems throughout the bj-league's 11 seasons
Second in a two-part series Throughout its rocky 11-season history, mismanagement was often at the heart of the bj-league's biggest problems. The league grew so fast (from six to eight to 10 to 12 to 13 to . . . eventually 24 teams this past season ...
'Helicopter' Humphrey joins new ABA squad RDC Vulcans as head coach
John "Helicopter" Humphrey, one of the now-dissolved bj-league's original stars, has been hired to coach the American Basketball Association's RDC Vulcans, an expansion squad. The Vulcans made the announcement on Thursday. According to published reports, two other expansion teams are also set to join the ABA: ...
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 ...
Former Apache team members, staff reflect on fateful 2010-11 season
First in a three-part series. The 2010-11 Tokyo Apache team delivered a memorable, unique product that will remain a part of Japan basketball lore for decades to come. To this observer, many memories of that team's final bj-league season are as fresh and vivid as they ...
Long wait ends as Hill returns to coach in NBA
Former Tokyo Apache head coach Bob Hill is back in the NBA after almost a decade's absence in which he worked several coaching stints around the globe. Hill accepted a job as an assistant with the struggling Phoenix Suns, and was on the bench on ...
League blows chance to honor Aoki
It's absolutely ridiculous that the most popular player in bj-league history is not going to play in the circuit's 10th and final All-Star Game. But it's not surprising. Really, it isn't. The bj-league has often failed to do things logically. And it's often failed to capitalize ...
Well-traveled Tyler going back to China
Former Tokyo Apache and NBA big man Jeremy Tyler is returning to China. Tyler will play for Fujian Sturgeons of the Chinese Basketball Association, according to published reports. The CBA season is already underway, and Fujian is 4-4 in the 20-team circuit as of press time ...
Verdell Jones III joins D-League's Warriors
Guard Verdell Jones III, who helped the Fukushima Firebonds reach the bj-league playoffs as an expansion team last season, has been named to the Santa Cruz Warriors' 15-man training camp roster, the NBA Development League team announced on Monday. Training camp opened on Tuesday for ...
Bryant out as Rizing Fukuoka coach
The Rizing Fukuoka on Thursday handed the coaching reins to Tomohiro Moriyama, who steered the Shimane Susanoo Magic to the playoffs after a disastrous start last season. The 31-year-old Moriyama replaces veteran mentor Joe Bryant, the now-defunct Tokyo Apache's original bench boss, on the Rizing ...
