Forward Kazuya "J." Hatano and sports journalist Ed Odeven at the 2007-08 All-Star banquet in Niigata.
Note: This was written when Kazuya "J." Hatano played for the Saitama Broncos in December 2010. He's now a Shiga Lakestars forward. Good pickup by Shiga.
Who is the bj-league's top Japanese rebounder?
Ask this question to a number of people, and you are likely to get the same answer: Saitama Broncos forward Kazuya "J" Hatano.
Beyond Hatano, who helped the Osaka Evessa capture titles in the league's first three seasons, the names of other solid Japanese rebounders are not as well known.
"Rebounding among Japanese players starts and ends with Hatano at Saitama," Akita coach Bob Pierce told The Japan Times. "J wants them, he works for them, he fights guys for them, and he's just athletic enough to get some away from the import players."
That doesn't mean, however, that the 192-cm Hatano, a perennial All-Star and fan favorite, is one of the league's elite-level rebounders. But he's a good rebounder, averaging 5.5 rebounds (40 offensive boards). His 3.3 defensive rebounds is No. 54 in the league. Another solid rebounder, Takamatsu guard Satoshi Takeda (now with Osaka), is 55th on the league's defensive boards charts (3.1) and 4.8 rpg total.
Who is the bj-league's top Japanese rebounder?
Ask this question to a number of people, and you are likely to get the same answer: Saitama Broncos forward Kazuya "J" Hatano.
Beyond Hatano, who helped the Osaka Evessa capture titles in the league's first three seasons, the names of other solid Japanese rebounders are not as well known.
"Rebounding among Japanese players starts and ends with Hatano at Saitama," Akita coach Bob Pierce told The Japan Times. "J wants them, he works for them, he fights guys for them, and he's just athletic enough to get some away from the import players."
That doesn't mean, however, that the 192-cm Hatano, a perennial All-Star and fan favorite, is one of the league's elite-level rebounders. But he's a good rebounder, averaging 5.5 rebounds (40 offensive boards). His 3.3 defensive rebounds is No. 54 in the league. Another solid rebounder, Takamatsu guard Satoshi Takeda (now with Osaka), is 55th on the league's defensive boards charts (3.1) and 4.8 rpg total.
