author

 
 
Ed Odeven
Ed Odeven covers primarily basketball for The Japan Times. He reported on a wide range of sports from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Summer Games for this newspaper. A native of the Bronx, N.Y., Odeven is a graduate of Arizona State University. He previously worked for the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff, Ariz., reporting on high school, collegiate, professional and Olympic sports (Flagstaff is a major international Olympic training site due to its high elevation) and writing a weekly column. His articles have appeared in Venezuela Online News, The Gleaner (Jamaica), the Monitor (Uganda), The Moscow Times, Swimming World Magazine and numerous other publications.
BASKETBALL
Nov 15, 2013
Kennedy rips Shimane management following release
The Shimane Susanoo Magic, who reached the playoffs in each of their first three seasons, have dropped nine of their first 10 games under new coach Vlasios Vlaikidis.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Nov 13, 2013
Iwate's Blackledge thriving as important contributor
Blessed with a 218-cm wingspan and a motor that's always ticking, forward Lawrence "Trend" Blackledge is a game-changing presence for the Iwate Big Bulls.
BASKETBALL
Nov 13, 2013
Tokyo overwhelms Saitama in fourth quarter, completes series sweep
Despite John "Helicopter" Humphrey's 45-point outburst, the Saitama Broncos couldn't quell the Tokyo Cinq Reves' momentum and spirited comeback on Wednesday night at Musashino General Gymnasium.
BASKETBALL
Nov 12, 2013
Tokyo outplays Saitama in series opener
The Tokyo Cinq Reves emerged victorious on Tuesday night by overcoming a five-point halftime deficit and seizing control of the game after the break.
BASKETBALL
Nov 11, 2013
Happinets keep unbeaten run going
Nearly one-fourth of the 2013-14 bj-league season has now been played, and the Akita Northern Happinets are still unbeaten.
BASKETBALL
Nov 9, 2013
Bambitious beat Hannaryz for first-ever win
The Bambitious Nara made history on Saturday afternoon, picking up the first-year franchise's first-ever victory, an 87-75 triumph over the host Kyoto Hannaryz.
BASKETBALL
Nov 8, 2013
Struggling Chiba signs center Mour
The Chiba Jets, playing their first season in the National Basketball League (NBL) after defecting from the rival bj-league, have signed Senegalese center Faye Pape Mour, the team announced on Friday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Nov 7, 2013
Popular Goya nearing return
Guard Takanori Goya is one of the bj-league's most well-known players, even though his career has been saddled by injuries.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Nov 6, 2013
Tokyo's Ide making most of chance with perennial All-Star Aoki gone
Guard Cohey Aoki starred for the Tokyo Apache from the league's inception until the team folded in 2011. He then spent a season with the Osaka Evessa, then returned to the capital city to be the Tokyo Cinq Reves' signature star last season.
BASKETBALL
Nov 5, 2013
Herb Brown helps Japan women's basketball team nab FIBA Asia gold
Longtime basketball coach Herb Brown, older brother of Hall of Fame bench boss Larry Brown, helped steer the Japan women's national team to its first continental championship in 43 years on Sunday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Nov 3, 2013
Murry leads Niigata past previously unbeaten Toyama
Since playing his first game for the then-expansion Toyama Grouses in 2006, Nile Murry has been one of the bj-league's best all-around players.
BASKETBALL
Nov 3, 2013
D-League teams draft five bj-league alumni
Five former bj-league players were selected in Friday's NBA Development League Draft.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Nov 2, 2013
Warren, Aoki spark Fukuoka in triumph over Nara
Reggie Warren scored 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and Cohey Aoki provided a vintage shooting performance for the Rizing Fukuoka on Saturday afternoon, scoring a season-high 19 points, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range, in an 85-64 victory over the Bambitious Nara.
BASKETBALL
Nov 1, 2013
B-Corsairs slump to defeat against Big Bulls
Defending champion Yokohama B-Corsairs had no answer for the high-energy Iwate Big Bulls in their bj-league series opener on Friday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Oct 30, 2013
Joho, Mito help propel Toyama to best start ever at 6-0
Masashi Joho has an impressive track record of success in the bj-league, playing for four playoff-bound franchises — two-time champion Osaka Evessa, two-time champion runnerup Tokyo Apache, Shiga Lakestars and Toyama Grouses — in the league's first eight seasons.
BASKETBALL
Oct 27, 2013
Shimane routs Takamatsu for first victory of season
Led by big man Jeral Davis' powerful presence (five dunks), the Shimane Susanoo Magic salvaged a series split on Sunday, and with it, they took a step in the right direction.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Oct 26, 2013
Akita hammers Shinshu, raises record to 7-0
The Akita Northern Happinets extended their perfect start to the 2013-14 bj-league season on Saturday, trouncing the visiting Shinshu Brave Warriors 113-82.
BASKETBALL
Oct 25, 2013
Gray provides major muscle to help carry Yokohama past Sendai
Marquise Gray, a Michigan State alum, scored 14 points and pulled down 24 rebounds and Masayuki Kabaya and Omar Reed added 15 points apiece to lead the Yokohama B-Corsairs to a 77-69 triumph over the visiting Sendai 89ers on Friday night.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Oct 23, 2013
Hamamatsu boss Higashino shakes up lineup early, gets results
It only took two games for Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix bench boss Tomoya "Coach Crusher" Higashino to decide that personnel changes needed to be made.
BASKETBALL
Oct 20, 2013
Togashi comes up big as Northern Happinets beat Cinq Reves
Point guard Yuki Togashi sank a pair of free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining and the Akita Northern Happinets completed a fourth-quarter comeback, defeating the Tokyo Cinq Reves 72-70 on Sunday in the bj-league.

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