B.PREMIER Basketball News
Japanese B.LEAGUE and B.PREMIER basketball news and analysis.
Chiba Jets lose Kanechika to concussion as Randolph earns clearance
Chiba Jets have confirmed a concussion for forward Ren Kanechika while removing guard Brandon Randolph from the injury list. The contrasting updates change the options for a 4–9 side in B.PREMIER.
More B.PREMIER stories
Tokyo Hit 100 as Utsunomiya's Perimeter Gamble Falls Short Before Rematch
Alvark Tokyo beat Utsunomiya 100–90 to stay top of B.PREMIER's East. The Brex made 13 of 42 threes despite only eight turnovers, leaving a sharper defensive test for Sunday's immediate rematch.
Nagoya Hit 17 Threes to Crush Shiga 104–69 and Extend Unbeaten B.PREMIER Start
Nagoya Diamond Dolphins moved to 9–0 with a 104–69 rout of Shiga Lakes, making 17 threes and recording 27 assists in front of 13,322 fans. The rematch on Sunday will test Shiga’s response.
Mikawa Register 15-Year-Old Takuma Yahagi for B.PREMIER Home Games
Seahorses Mikawa have registered 15-year-old wing Takuma Yahagi through B.LEAGUE's youth development pathway. He will join the senior group for home games against Saga, although a match-day selection or debut has not been confirmed.
Osaka Release Damonte Dodd After Nine Games as Injuries Force Frontcourt Reset
Osaka Evessa have mutually terminated centre Damonte Dodd’s contract after nine B.PREMIER appearances, with Sebastian Saiz also on the injury list and two new big men arriving.
Jalen McDaniels Leaves Kobe Storks Before Nagasaki Double-Header
Former NBA forward Jalen McDaniels has left Kobe by mutual consent after 11 B.PREMIER games. With the Storks on a six-game losing streak, a home double-header against Nagasaki now brings an immediate rotation test.
Kawasaki’s 39–9 Derby Grip Faces Namizato’s Yokohama Challenge
Kawasaki have won 39 of 48 meetings with Yokohama, but both clubs enter their first B.PREMIER Kanagawa derby below .500. Reoto Yonesu and assist leader Narito Namizato headline a revealing two-game test.
Nagoya’s 8–0 Start Meets Shiga’s Assist Machine at IG Arena Home Opener
Unbeaten Nagoya welcome Shiga for their B.PREMIER home opener, pitting the Dolphins’ efficient attack and league-leading steals against the Lakes’ top-ranked passing game.
Akita fined ¥1m over Murphy driving breach, but B.LEAGUE imposes no playing ban
B.LEAGUE has fined Akita Northern Happinets ¥1 million for its supervisory failure after Troy Murphy Jr breached Japanese driving rules. The player was reprimanded, not suspended, as the league drew a sharp line between individual error and repeat club responsibility.
Kyoto lose Leon Shibuta to hamstring injury as 8–2 start faces a backcourt test
Kyoto Hannaryz have confirmed a hamstring injury for guard Leon Shibuta, with no return date set. His 3.6 assists per game leave an early-season contender with a genuine rotation question before Friday’s trip to Shinshu.
B.PREMIER Return Watch: Costello and Mitchell Reach 29 October Injury-List Checkpoint, Not Clearance
Chiba's Matt Costello and Nagasaki's Akil Mitchell both reach an injury-list administrative milestone on 29 October, but neither has a verified return clearance. Here is what the official league register, club notices and weekend fixtures actually establish.
Osaka Evessa Lose 2028–29 B.PREMIER Licence After Arena Failure, Face ¥50m Fine
Osaka Evessa have been refused a 2028–29 B.PREMIER licence after their arena refurbishment plan broke down. The club can still play in 2026–27 and 2027–28, but faces a ¥50 million penalty and an uncertain route back.
Toyama’s ¥15m Fine Exposes the Attendance Test Behind B.PREMIER’s Licence Model
Toyama retained its 2028–29 B.PREMIER licence despite a ¥15 million attendance sanction. The league’s figures reveal why crowd thresholds and arena access, not match results alone, now determine top-tier status.
B.LEAGUE Draft 2027 Reaches 46 Entrants: Why the Earlier Lottery Matters More Than a Prospect Count
Aoyama Gakuin guard Uenoyama is the 46th reported entrant for Japan’s 2027 B.LEAGUE draft. The more consequential change is a lottery moved from December to 27 November, giving B.PREMIER clubs a clearer scouting timetable before the university championship and combine.
Hiroshima Reach Ten Wins First: Sato’s Six Assists Reveal the Value of Their Defensive Reset
Hiroshima answered their first B.PREMIER defeat by beating Yokohama 90–64 to reach ten wins. Ryosei Sato’s 14 points and six assists show why the Dragonflies’ defensive response was about more than their import stars.
Alvark Tokyo’s 32–10 Rebounding Half Explains the 112–88 Rout of Saga — and the Warning Within
Alvark Tokyo overwhelmed Saga 112–88 after dominating the first-half boards 32–10. Keyonte Johnson scored 30, but seven third-quarter turnovers exposed a weakness before the Utsunomiya series.
Shinshu End Seven-Game Skid as Kobe’s B2 Championship Form Hits a B.PREMIER Reality Check
Shinshu’s 97–87 win ended seven straight defeats, while Kobe fell to 2–9 after dominating B2 last season. Official shooting and rebounding figures explain the contrasting problems facing both clubs.
Nagoya Reach 8–0 in B.PREMIER: Eatherton’s Eight Assists Fuel a 33–17 Final-Quarter Comeback
Nagoya Diamond Dolphins erased a five-point deficit to beat Tokyo Sunrockers 96–85, moving to 8–0 in B.PREMIER. Scott Eatherton’s 17 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists reveal how the unbeaten side found a different route to victory.
Sendai Win Sixth Straight by One Point: Layman’s 27 and Perfect Free Throws Sink Shimane
Sendai 89ers erased an eight-point three-quarter-time deficit to beat Shimane 86–85. Jake Layman scored 27, but a perfect 15-from-15 team free-throw return tells the sharper story behind a sixth consecutive B.PREMIER victory.