B.League

This article is about a Japanese basketball league. For the Bangladeshi soccer league previously known as the B.League, see Bangladesh Premier League (football).

The B.League[1] is a men's professional basketball league that will commence in Japan in October 2016.[2] The league will be operated by the Japan Professional Basketball League and has been formed as a result of a merger between the National Basketball League that is operated by the FIBA-affiliated Japan Basketball Association and the independently operated bj-league. The merger had been mandated by FIBA as a condition to Japan having its membership resumed following suspension in November 2014.[3]

Format

The league will consist of three divisions; the first two divisions will have 18 teams each. The third division will have nine teams made up of de facto semi-professional teams. There will be a system of promotion and relegation between the first and second division. Each of the first two divisions will be further divided into three conferences.[4]

Teams

In the 2014-2015 season, there were 12 teams in the NBL, 10 teams in the National Basketball Development League (NBDL, the NBL's second division league) and 23 teams in the bj-league. All 45 teams sought entrance to the B.League's inaugural 2016-17 season. The allocation of the teams into the three divisions was announced in two phases in July[2] and August 2015.[4]

First division (18 teams)

Team name City, Prefecture 2015-16 League
Aisin Seahorses Mikawa Kariya, Aichi NBL
Akita Northern Happinets Akita, Akita bj-league
Chiba Jets Funabashi, Chiba NBL
Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix Hamamatsu, Shizuoka bj-league
Hitachi SunRockers Tokyo NBL
Kyoto Hannaryz Kyoto, Kyoto bj-league
Levanga Hokkaido Sapporo, Hokkaido NBL
Link Tochigi Brex Utsunomiya, Tochigi NBL
Mitsubishi Diamond Dolphins Nagoya Nagoya, Aichi NBL
Niigata Albirex BB Niigata, Niigata bj-league
Osaka Evessa Osaka, Osaka bj-league
Ryukyu Golden Kings Okinawa, Okinawa bj-league
Sendai 89ers Sendai, Miyagi bj-league
Shiga Lakestars Ōtsu, Shiga bj-league
Toyama Grouses Toyama, Toyama bj-league
Toshiba Brave Thunders Kanagawa Kawasaki, Kanagaawa NBL
Toyota Alvark Tokyo Fuchū, Tokyo NBL
Yokohama B-Corsairs Yokohama, Kanagawa bj-league

Second division (18 teams)

Team City, Prefecture 2015-16 League
Aomori Wat's Aomori, Aomori bj-league
Bambitious Nara Nara, Nara bj-league
Cyberdyne Tsukuba Robots Tsukuba, Ibaraki NBL
Earth Friends Tokyo Z Ōta, Tokyo NBDL
Fukushima Firebonds Kōriyama, Fukushima bj-league
Gunma CraneThunders Maebashi, Gunma bj-league
Hiroshima Dragonflies Hiroshima, Hiroshima NBL
Iwate Big Bulls Morioka, Iwate bj-league
Kumamoto Volters Kumamoto, Kumamoto NBL
Nishinomiya Storks Nishinomiya, Hyogo NBL
Pas lab. Yamagata Wwyverns Yamagata, Yamagata NBDL
Oita Ehime HeatDevils Beppu, Ōita
Matsuyama, Ehime		 bj-league
Renova Kagoshima Kagoshima, Kagoshima NBDL
Shimane Susanoo Magic Matsue, Shimane bj-league
Shinshu Brave Warriors Chikuma, Nagano bj-league
Takamatsu Five Arrows Takamatsu, Kagawa bj-league
Tokyo Excellence Itabashi, Tokyo NBDL
Toyota Tsusho Fighting Eagles Nagoya Nagoya, Aichi NBDL

Third division (9 teams)

Team City, Prefecture 2015-16 League
Aisin AW Areions Anjo Anjō, Aichi NBDL
Kanazawa Samuraiz Kanazawa, Ishikawa bj-league
Otsuka Corporation Alphas Tokyo NBDL
Rizing Fukuoka Fukuoka, Fukuoka bj-league
Saitama Broncos Tokorozawa, Saitama bj-league
Tokio Marine Nichido Big Blue Nerima, Tokyo NBDL
Tokyo Cinq Rêves Chōfu, Tokyo bj-league
Tokyo Hachioji Trains Hachiōji, Tokyo NBDL
Toyoda Gosei Scorpions Kiyosu, Aichi NBDL

References

  1. ↑ Nagatsuka, Kaz (15 September 2015). "New pro basketball league unveils name, logo". The Japan Times. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 "JPBLの「1部～3部階層分け発表記者会見」について" [Regarding the JPBL's "Division 1-3 Assignment Press Conference"] (in Japanese). Nishinomiya Storks. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Japan suspended by FIBA". ESPN. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  4. 1 2 Nagatsuka, Kaz (29 August 2015). "JPBL finalizes division placements for 2016-17". The Japan Times. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
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