bj league
 A BJ league preseason game |
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| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 |
| No. of teams | 19 |
| Country(ies) |  Japan |
| Most recent champion(s) | Ryukyu Golden Kings |
| TV partner(s) | BS Fuji, Gaora |
| Official website | bj-league.com |
The bj League (Basketball Japan League) is a professional basketball league in Japan that began on November 5, 2005. The ten-team league is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference, and the Western Conference. It had its inaugural All-Star game in 2006. One of its major sponsors is Spalding.
The bj League operates on the American sports franchise system. Alongside the BJ there is a Japan Basketball League, composed of company and otherwise-affiliated clubs, with promotion and relegation between its two divisions but not between BJ and JBL-1. This organization is similar to the Rugby Super League in England and is also shown in the British Basketball League (which includes clubs from both England and Scotland).
In June 2012, the Japan Basketball Association announced to establish a National Basketball League (NBL) as the topflight professional league in Japan. The 2012–13 season becomes the last JBL season as JBL teams will join the NBL alongside an undetermined number of teams from the bj league.
Contents |
Teams [edit]
Eastern Conference
- Iwate Big Bulls (Iwate Prefecture)
- Akita Northern Happinets (Akita Prefecture)
- Sendai 89ERS (Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture)
- Niigata Albirex BB (Niigata, Niigata Prefecture)
- Toyama Grouses (Toyama Prefecture)
- Shinshu Brave Warriors (Nagano Prefecture)
- Gunma CraneThunders (Gunma Prefecture)
- Saitama Broncos (Saitama Prefecture)
- Chiba Jets (Chiba Prefecture)
- Tokyo Cinq Rêves (Tokyo)
- Yokohama B-Corsairs (Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture)
Western Conference
- Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix (Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, and Higashimikawa Area, Aichi Prefecture)
- Shiga Lakestars (Shiga Prefecture)
- Kyoto Hannaryz (Kyoto Prefecture)
- Osaka Evessa (Osaka Prefecture)
- Shimane Susanoo Magic (Shimane Prefecture)
- Takamatsu Five Arrows (Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture)
- Rizing Fukuoka (Fukuoka Prefecture)
- Oita Heat Devils (Beppu, Ōita Prefecture)
- Miyazaki Shining Suns (Miyazaki Prefecture)
- Ryukyu Golden Kings (Okinawa Prefecture)
Defunct teams
Expansion [edit]
The bj-league plans on expanding to 24 teams by the 2014-15 season, the 10th anniversary of the league creation.
Several organizations are vying for expansion. Those in the running for expansion are from:
The league is also considering creation of specific leagues for youth, women, and people with disabilities.
Playoff champions [edit]
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | Osaka Evessa | Niigata Albirex BB |
| 2006–07 | Osaka Evessa | Takamatsu Five Arrows |
| 2007–08 | Osaka Evessa | Tokyo Apache |
| 2008–09 | Ryukyu Golden Kings | Tokyo Apache |
| 2009–10 | Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix | Osaka Evessa |
| 2010–11 | Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix | Ryukyu Golden Kings |
| 2011–12 | Ryukyu Golden Kings | Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix |
All-star game [edit]
| Season | Date | Arena | Host City | Result | MVP (Team) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-07 | January 27, 2007 | Ginowan Municipal Gymnasium | Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture | EAST 126-97 WEST | Jerod Ward (Toyama Grouses) |
| 2007-08 | December 29, 2007 | Toki Messe | Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture | EAST 121-94 WEST | Kosuke Naoto (Niigata Albirex BB) |
| 2008-09 | January 25, 2009 | B-Con Plaza | Beppu, Ōita Prefecture | EAST 117-96 WEST | Bobby St. Preux (Sendai 89ERS) |
| 2009-10 | January 31, 2010 | Sekisui Heim Super Arena | Rifu, Miyagi Prefecture | WEST 105–102 EAST | Michael Parker (Rizing Fukuoka) |
| 2010-11 | January 23, 2011 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium | Osaka, Osaka Prefecture | WEST 110–109 EAST | Michael Parker (Rizing Fukuoka) |
Awards [edit]
Season MVP [edit]
| Season | Recipient | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | Lynn Washington | Osaka Evessa |
| 2006–07 | David Palmer | Osaka Evessa |
| 2007–08 | Lynn Washington | Osaka Evessa |
| 2008–09 | Jeff Newton | Ryukyu Golden Kings |
| 2009–10 | Wendell White | Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix |
| 2010–11 | Jeffrey Parmer | Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix |
| 2011–12 | Justin Burrell[1] | Yokohama B-Corsairs |
Best 5 [edit]
Notes [edit]
External links [edit]
- (Japanese) bj-league Official Web site
- (Japanese) bjtv
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Coordinates: 35°28′20″N 133°03′55″E / 35.47222°N 133.06528°E
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