What ails the sport n Japan is a systemic problem that goes far beyond the bj-league's structure.
One player, who has been in the bj-league since Day One, offered his own analysis of the sport's current state in an exclusive e-mail interview last season. Part of his analysis included a reaction to a Daily Yomiuri two-part story and a theory about why Japan's men's basketball has had such limited success in terms of media exposure and international competition.
"I think we can all agree on these surface problems with Japanese basketball," the veteran player told me. "Old guys who never touched a basketball before who are secure with their positions do not want to rock the boat.
"I see the real problem is Japanese grassroots basketball, or lack thereof. Mini-basketball (played using much lower baskets) has to go, but do you really want Japan to turn into the AAU basketball machine that USA has now? Ranking a fifth-grader? Treating 15-year-olds like superstars? There is a fine line but I wouldn't mind seeing something along those lines.
"But going back to the youth, they are the target. All these bj-league teams, though they've diluted talent, have helped the sport in Japan. They all do clinics in their respective areas. Now they are getting kids seeing people of their own height, skin color, face that can become pros. Before that was not the case."
That last point cannot be overstated, but it would have an even greater — and long-lasting impact — if a Japanese standout had become a 10- or 15-year star in the NBA.
(Unfortunately, Yuta Tabuse's four-game stint with the Phoenix Suns a few years ago didn't make a dramatic impact on this nation's hoop scene.)
"I watch Japanese college ball every year and there are some talented, athletic guys with good size that play," the bj-league player said. "I asked my friend why those guys are not playing pro. He said they only take a few in the JBL and plus, by the time they graduate, they lose the love of the game.
"Their whole basketball lives are based on hours of harsh conditioning, robotic play, and no reality of turning pro after college. They lose the drive. I blame it on the coaching. Japanese coaches at the middle, high school and college (levels) are freakin' nuts . . .
"We will see a change in the next generation. Former bj-league/JBL players will take over those jobs. They will take over front-office bj-league jobs, people with actual knowledge of the game."
He added: "In Japan, although hard to believe, basketball is the No. 1 participant sport. But why do we not turn out top players? Opportunity.
"There is no national system to get these kids locked in to basketball. No outdoor courts everywhere like in the (United) States. The JBL and the bj-league are helping but one top pro league would strengthen that."
"I think we can all agree on these surface problems with Japanese basketball," the veteran player told me. "Old guys who never touched a basketball before who are secure with their positions do not want to rock the boat.
"I see the real problem is Japanese grassroots basketball, or lack thereof. Mini-basketball (played using much lower baskets) has to go, but do you really want Japan to turn into the AAU basketball machine that USA has now? Ranking a fifth-grader? Treating 15-year-olds like superstars? There is a fine line but I wouldn't mind seeing something along those lines.
"But going back to the youth, they are the target. All these bj-league teams, though they've diluted talent, have helped the sport in Japan. They all do clinics in their respective areas. Now they are getting kids seeing people of their own height, skin color, face that can become pros. Before that was not the case."
That last point cannot be overstated, but it would have an even greater — and long-lasting impact — if a Japanese standout had become a 10- or 15-year star in the NBA.
(Unfortunately, Yuta Tabuse's four-game stint with the Phoenix Suns a few years ago didn't make a dramatic impact on this nation's hoop scene.)
"I watch Japanese college ball every year and there are some talented, athletic guys with good size that play," the bj-league player said. "I asked my friend why those guys are not playing pro. He said they only take a few in the JBL and plus, by the time they graduate, they lose the love of the game.
"Their whole basketball lives are based on hours of harsh conditioning, robotic play, and no reality of turning pro after college. They lose the drive. I blame it on the coaching. Japanese coaches at the middle, high school and college (levels) are freakin' nuts . . .
"We will see a change in the next generation. Former bj-league/JBL players will take over those jobs. They will take over front-office bj-league jobs, people with actual knowledge of the game."
He added: "In Japan, although hard to believe, basketball is the No. 1 participant sport. But why do we not turn out top players? Opportunity.
"There is no national system to get these kids locked in to basketball. No outdoor courts everywhere like in the (United) States. The JBL and the bj-league are helping but one top pro league would strengthen that."
