A history of problems, crises, missteps and growing pains

From The Japan Times archives, taking stock of the bj-league's first nine seasons with a series of articles and columns that chronicle major problems.

Commentary - Player protection rule has negative impact on bj-league

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2010/09/05/basketball/bj-league/player-protection-rule-has-negative-impact-on-bj-league/#.VCqF3ldbvSg

News - Rizing Fukuoka president suspected of embezzlement

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/04/15/basketball/bj-league/rizing-fukuoka-president-suspected-of-embezzlement/#.U3SOXHZbvSg

News - Agent rips Evessa after they pay off Cox over lawsuit threat

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/03/basketball/bj-league/agent-rips-evessa-after-they-pay-off-cox-over-lawsuit-threat/

Commentary - Murray rips Rawl for reneging on offer to coach Oita

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2009/09/23/basketball/bj-league/murray-rips-rawl-for-reneging-on-offer-to-coach-oita/#.VCqHTldbvSg

News - Oita fires coach Hepp after American players leave

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/03/20/sports/oita-fires-coach-hepp-after-american-players-leave/#.U3SQcHZbvSg

News- Oita's money problems examined in a series of stories

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/30/basketball/bj-league/oita-defaults-on-player-salaries-asks-league-to-intervene/#.U3SP2XZbvSg

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/12/01/basketball/bj-league/shame-game-in-oita-players-rip-team-allege-fraud/#.U3SQLXZbvSg

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/12/02/basketball/players-give-ultimatum-to-oita-plan-appeal-to-fiba/#.U3SQBXZbvSg

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/12/05/basketball/ex-mvp-white-blasts-bj-league-plans-to-sue-oita/#.U3SPZXZbvSg

News - Gunma's Keller alleges pattern of malfeasance by Miyazaki

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/03/01/basketball/bj-league/gunmas-keller-alleges-pattern-of-malfeasance-by-miyazaki/#.U3SNgHZbvSg

Column - two-part expose on Tokyo Apache's refusal to provide money for Dameion Baker's medical needs after he suffered an injury in the championship game. He didn't have medical insurance at the time.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2009/06/21/basketball/bj-league/injured-baker-in-limbo-over-cash-dispute-with-apache/#.VCqIuVdbvSg

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2009/06/22/basketball/bj-league/unions-give-athletes-solidarity-provide-more-protection/

News - League icon Lynn Washington's arrest on drug charges, all of which were dropped, his release from police custody, his forced retirement and related stories. Follow the timeline - stories presented chronologically.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/03/14/basketball/bj-league/evessas-washington-arrested-in-drug-case/#.VCutT2d_uh0

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/03/16/basketball/bj-league/league-to-test-all-players-for-drugs-after-washington-arrest/#.VCusTWd_uh0

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/03/17/basketball/bj-league/drug-use-rampant-in-bj-league-claims-saitamas-flowers/#.VCus92d_uh0

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/03/21/basketball/bj-league/washington-to-fight-charges-in-drug-case/#.VCusFWd_uh0

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/04/01/basketball/bj-league/evessas-washington-exonerated-by-police-in-drug-case/#.VCuqHmd_uh0

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/04/07/basketball/bj-league/washington-in-limbo-week-after-exoneration/

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/04/11/basketball/bj-league/evessa-claim-star-washington-has-decided-to-retire/

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/05/26/basketball/bj-league/ex-evessa-stars-spouse-released-from-custody/

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/09/29/basketball/bj-league/former-evessa-star-washington-claims-he-is-blackballed-despite-exoneration/#.VCuuqmd_uh0

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/18/basketball/bj-league/story-behind-drug-scandal-that-rocked-bj-league-to-core/