Looking back on the past bj-league season, for example, illustrated this in a profound way. The astounding number of games that don't have full coverage on TV is a major obstacle that hasn't been overcome despite the rapid expansion of the sport in markets all over Japan in the past decade, what with the six-team bj-league now up to 21 teams and the NBL (old JBL) and NBDL (JBL2) adding teams as well.
"(Toyama star Ira) Brown would be famous across Japan for some of the dunks he threw down against Nagano (Shinshu Brave Warriors) two weeks ago," a league observer pointed out, recalling a timeless moment from the past season. "Plays like that should be on Japan's version of "Sports Center" every night, or at least on some NHK Sunday night sports show.
"Way to go, smart leaders in the basketball world of the JBA/JBL/BJL/NBL, who keep wondering how to make basketball a major sport in this country."