# Bj league

The bj league (日本プロバスケットボールリーグ, Nihon Puro Basukettobōru Rīgu, also referred to as the Basketball Japan League) was a professional basketball league in Japan that began in November 2005 as a six-team league. The league was operated as a competitor to the established Japan Super League which was run by the Japan Basketball Association, the official governing body of basketball in Japan. Over the next ten years the league saw continual expansion, with at least one new team joining every season, reaching 24 teams divided into two conferences in its final season in 2015–16. Turkish Airlines was the major sponsor of the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons.
The bj league operated on the American sports franchise system. This was in contrast to the Japan Super League and its successor, the National Basketball League, which was a corporate league composed primarily of company teams and other clubs affiliated with the JBA. There was no system of promotion and relegation between the two leagues. This division in the administration of the sport resulted in FIBA suspending the JBA from November 2014 until August 2015. As a condition of lifting the suspension, the bj league merged with the NBL and the National Basketball Development League to form the B.League.

## History

The formation of the league commenced in August 2004 with an announcement by Niigata Albirex BB and Saitama Broncos that they were withdrawing their membership of the Japan Basketball Association, and the establishment of an intermediary corporation later the same month that was tasked with forming a new league. In November 2004 the formation of the bj league was officially announced, with four newly-formed clubs (Oita Heat Devils, Osaka Deinonychus, Sendai 89ers and Tokyo Apache) to join the Niigata and Saitama teams. In May 2005 the owners of the Osaka franchise faced financial difficulty and transferred their licence to the club's intended main sponsor, who instead formed Osaka Evessa. In October 2005, three weeks prior to the start of the league's first season, the league announced its first expansion, with the Takamatsu Five Arrows and Toyama Grouses to join the 2006–07 season.
The 2005–06 season was a 40-match season, with each club playing 8 matches against each other. The inaugural game occurred on November 5, 2005 at Ariake Coliseum between the Tokyo Apache and Niigata Albirex. The Apache, led by Joe Bryant won in overtime by a score of 93-90 with Darin Maki scoring the first every basket in the opening seconds. Osaka and Niigata dominated the first season of the league with 31 and 29 wins respectively; Osaka became inaugural league champions by defeating Niigata 74–64 in the championship match.
The inclusion of the Takamatsu and Toyama teams saw the league separate into 4-team Eastern and Western conferences in the 2006–07 season. Each team again played 40 matches; eight against each of the teams in their conference and four against each of the teams in the opposing conference. However, teams were ranked in a single standings table, meaning three Western Conference teams (Osaka, Takamatsu and Tokyo) and Niigata competed in the semi-finals. Osaka claimed a second championship by defeating 94–78 in the final. The season also saw the league hold its first all-star match and announce that a further two expansion teams, Rizing Fukuoka and Ryukyu Golden Kings, would join the following season.

## Teams

Eastern Conference
* Akita Northern Happinets (Akita Prefecture)
* Aomori Wat's (Aomori Prefecture)
* Fukushima Firebonds (Fukushima Prefecture)
* Gunma Crane Thunders (Gunma Prefecture)
* Iwate Big Bulls (Iwate Prefecture)
* Niigata Albirex BB (Niigata, Niigata Prefecture)
* Saitama Broncos (Saitama Prefecture)
* Sendai 89ers (Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture)
* Shinshu Brave Warriors (Nagano Prefecture)
* Tokyo Cinq Rêves (Tokyo)
* Toyama Grouses (Toyama Prefecture)
* Yokohama B-Corsairs (Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture)
Western Conference
* Bambitious Nara (Nara Prefecture)
* Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix (Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, and Higashimikawa Area, Aichi Prefecture)
* Hiroshima Lightning (Hiroshima Prefecture)
* Kanazawa Samuraiz (Ishikawa Prefecture)
* Kyoto Hannaryz (Kyoto Prefecture)
* Oita Ehime HeatDevils (Ōita city, Ōita Prefecture and Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture)
* Osaka Evessa (Osaka Prefecture)
* Rizing Fukuoka (Fukuoka Prefecture)
* Ryukyu Golden Kings (Okinawa Prefecture)
* Shiga Lakestars (Shiga Prefecture)
* Shimane Susanoo Magic (Shimane Prefecture)
* Takamatsu Five Arrows (Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture)
Former teams
* Chiba Jets (Chiba Prefecture) (Joined the NBL for the 2013–14 season)
Defunct teams
* Tokyo Apache (Tokyo)
* Miyazaki Shining Suns (Miyazaki Prefecture)

## Expansion

The bj league had rapidly expanded since its inauguration as a six-team league in 2005. The league expanded to 22 teams for the 2014–15 season with the addition of the Fukushima Firebonds. For its final season the number increased to 24 with the addition of Kanazawa Samuraiz and Hiroshima Lightning.

## Playoff champions

| 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 |
| 2012–13 | Yokohama B-Corsairs | Rizing Fukuoka |
| 2013–14 | Ryukyu Golden Kings | Akita Northern Happinets |
| 2014–15 | Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix | Akita Northern Happinets |
| 2015–16 | Ryukyu Golden Kings | Toyama Grouses |

## All-star game

| 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 | Naoto Kosuge (Niigata Albirex BB) |
| 2008–09 | January 25, 2009 | Beppu Beacon 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 | Lynn Washington (Osaka Evessa) |
| 2011–12 | January 15, 2012 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Saitama Prefecture | WEST 120–93 EAST | Lynn Washington (Osaka Evessa) |
| 2012–13 | January 20, 2013 | Ariake Coliseum | Koto Ward, Tokyo | WEST 128–119 EAST | Michael Parker (Shimane Susanoo Magic) |
| 2013–14 | January 26, 2014 | Akita Municipal Gymnasium | Akita, Akita Prefecture | EAST 98–91 WEST | Yuki Togashi (Akita Northern Happinets) |
| 2014–15 | February 1, 2015 | ALSOK Gunma Arena | Gunma, Gunma Prefecture | WEST 105–94 EAST | Terrance Woodbury (Shiga Lakestars) |
| 2015–16 | January 26, 2016 | Xebio Arena Sendai | Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture | EAST 115–108 WEST | Le'Bryan Nash (Fukushima Firebonds) |

## Awards
### Season MVP

| 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 | Yokohama B-Corsairs |
| 2012–13 | Anthony McHenry | Ryukyu Golden Kings |
| 2013–14 | Masashi Joho | Toyama Grouses |
| 2014–15 | Kejuan Johnson | Sendai 89ers |
| 2015–16 | Wendell White | Sendai 89ers |

### Best 5

| Season | Guard | Guard | Forward | Forward | Center |
| 2005–06 | Matt Lottich (Osaka Evessa) | Yukinori Suzuki (Oita Heat Devils) | Michael Jackson (Sendai 89ERS) | William Pippen (Tokyo Apache) | Nick Davis (Niigata Albirex BB) |
| 2006–07 | Kohei Aoki (Tokyo Apache) | Rasheed Sparks (Takamatsu Five Arrows) | Lynn Washington (Osaka Evessa) | Andy Ellis (Oita Heat Devils) | Nick Davis (Niigata Albirex BB) |
| 2007–08 | Mikey Marshall (Osaka Evessa) | Naoto Takushi (Ryukyu Golden Kings) | Reggie Warren (Takamatsu Five Arrows) | Andy Ellis (Oita Heat Devils) | Patrick Whearty (Sendai 89ERS) |
| 2008–09 | Michael Gardener (Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix) | Naoto Takushi (Ryukyu Golden Kings) | Bobby St. Preux (Sendai 89ERS) | Lynn Washington (Osaka Evessa) | Jeff Newton (Ryukyu Golden Kings) |
| 2009–10 | Kohei Aoki (Tokyo Apache) | Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (Kyoto Hannaryz) | Michael Parker (Rizing Fukuoka) | Wendell White (Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix) | Julius Ashby (Tokyo Apache) |
| 2010–11 | Wayne Arnold (Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix) | Takumi Ishizaki (Shimane Susanoo Magic) | Jeffrey Parmer (Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix) | Michael Parker (Rizing Fukuoka) | Anthony McHenry (Ryukyu Golden Kings) |
| 2011–12 | Jermaine Dixon (Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix) | Masashi Joho (Toyama Grouses) | Kevin Palmer (Rizing Fukuoka) | Justin Burrell (Yokohama B-Corsairs) | Atsuya Ohta (Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix) |
| 2012–13 | Narito Namizato (Ryukyu Golden Kings) | Draelon Burns (Yokohama B-Corsairs) | Anthony McHenry (Ryukyu Golden Kings) | Chris Holm (Niigata Albirex BB) | Jeral Davis (Shimane Susanoo Magic) |
| Season | Guard | Guard | Forward/Center | Forward/Center | Forward/Center |
| 2013–14 | Yuki Togashi (Akita Northern Happinets) | Masashi Joho (Toyama Grouses) | Ira Brown (Toyama Grouses) | Reggie Warren (Rizing Fukuoka) | Anthony McHenry (Ryukyu Golden Kings) |
| 2014–15 | Shigehiro Taguchi (Akita Northern Happinets) | Kejuan Johnson (Sendai 89ers) | Scootie Randall (Iwate Big Bulls) | Richard Roby (Akita Northern Happinets) | Reggie Warren (Rizing Fukuoka) |
| 2015–16 | Ryuichi Kishimoto (Ryukyu Golden Kings) | Masashi Joho (Toyama Grouses) | Le'Bryan Nash (Fukushima Firebonds) | Wendell White (Sendai 89ers) | Josh Davis (Shimane Susanoo Magic) |

### Slam Dunk Contest Winners

* 2007: Sparks
* 2008: Sparks
* 2009: Simpson
* 2010: Tachibana
* 2011: Tachibana
* 2012: Humphrey
* 2013: Cunningham
* 2014: Andrews
* 2015: Stephens
* 2016: Florveus

### Three-Point Contest Winners

* 2007: Garrison
* 2008: Garrison
* 2009: Suzuki
* 2010: Okada
* 2011: Okada
* 2012: Aoki
* 2013: Okada
* 2014: Sanders
* 2015: Taguchi
* 2016: Taguchi