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.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA / HOOP SCOOP
Jun 7, 2017
Nets star Lopez relishes chance to travel globe
Brook Lopez dunks and rebounds basketballs for a living, and — ouch! — collides with fellow 2-meter behemoths in the lane. So when the grind of the 82-game season comes to a halt, the Brooklyn Nets center is eager to take it easy.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / HOOP SCOOP
Jun 3, 2017
Inconsistent level of B. League officiating a cause for real concern
Rising attendance figures across the nation and increased media attention were two byproducts of the merger that created the B. League, when the disbanded NBL, NBDL and bj-league joined forces to make this a possibility.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / B. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jun 1, 2017
Fourth-quarter hero Gibbs' Achilles injury deals setback to Brex
Tochigi Brex forward Jeff Gibbs' terrific fourth-quarter performance in the B. League Championship final on Saturday instantly entered this nation's hoop annals as a special feat.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 27, 2017
Brex claim first B. League title
An exciting new era for pro basketball in Japan produced an appropriate final chapter to close out its inaugural season on Saturday afternoon.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / B. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 25, 2017
Kawasaki, Tochigi to clash in B. League final
The inaugural B. League championship pits two teams with established stars, deep benches, up-and-coming players, accomplished coaches and growing fan bases.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 21, 2017
Brex survive fierce duel with SeaHorses in tiebreaker, advance to B. League Championship final
The Tochigi Brex advanced to the B. League Championship final, holding off the visiting SeaHorses Mikawa in the Game 3 tiebreaker on Sunday afternoon.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 20, 2017
Brave Thunders catch fire at right time to beat Alvark for spot in B. League final
For the Kawasaki Brave Thunders and Alvark Tokyo, bonus play was the high-pressure result of Saturday's thrilling B. League Championship semifinal contest at Todoroki Arena.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 19, 2017
Brave Thunders too strong for Alvark in Game 1 of semifinals
Overcoming a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter against any foe is a big challenge.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / B. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 18, 2017
Familiar foes set to face off in semis
For the remaining four title-chasing participants in the B. League Championship, familiarity over the years is a common thread.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 14, 2017
Alvark oust NeoPhoenix to reach B. League Championship semis
A strong third-quarter performance lifted the Alvark Tokyo and transformed the outcome of Sunday's B. League Championship quarterfinal contest against the San-en NeoPhoenix.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 13, 2017
Offense clicks for Brave Thunders in Game 1 victory over Sunrockers
The top-seeded Kawasaki Brave Thunders shot a sizzling 53 percent from the field in the first game of the B. League Championship quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 12, 2017
Storks storm past Crane Thunders to reach second-flight title game against TBD foe
The Central Division champion Nishinomiya Storks defeated the visiting Gunma Crane Thunders 70-60 victory in Game 2 of the B. League second-division semifinals on Friday night.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
May 12, 2017
Daily conversations about life, basketball strengthen Dick and Diante Garrett's special bond
Diante Garrett's dazzling basketball skills, contagious confidence and veteran leadership have provided a big boost for the title-chasing Alvark Tokyo this season.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / B. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 11, 2017
Former UCLA coach Lavin, five-time NBA All-Star Marques Johnson reflect on Sakuragi's poise, intelligence
Longevity is just one aspect of J.R. Sakuragi's successful basketball career.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 8, 2017
Brave Thunders' Fazekas earns B. League scoring title
Since September, 18 first-division teams competed for supremacy during the regular season. The same number of second-flight clubs did the same thing.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 7, 2017
Golden Kings beat Evessa on final day to grab playoff spot
Fittingly, the final game of the first division's regular season came down to the final champion of the bj-league (Ryukyu Golden Kings) taking on the now-disbanded circuit's first dynasty (Osaka Evessa).
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 6, 2017
Jets throttle Levanga for eighth straight win
The Chiba Jets cruised past the Levanga Hokkaido on Saturday, producing a 77-60 triumph for their eighth consecutive victory.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 5, 2017
Brave Thunders soar past Sunrockers in OT
The Kawasaki Brave Thunders' two-point halftime deficit increased to 12 entering the fourth quarter on Friday night.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / B. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 4, 2017
Lack of draft impacting competitive balance
In an analysis stretching back to September, there have been a number of important accomplishments during the B. League's inaugural season.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 3, 2017
Brex capture East Division crown with victory over Alvark
The Tochigi Brex wrapped up the East Division title and snapped a two-game losing streak on Wednesday, holding off the Alvark Tokyo with a 79-76 victory.

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