Tokyo Apache coach Joe Bryant, father of Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, will appear on the NHK program "Eigo de Shaberanaito" on Feb. 16, the bj-league team announced.
During the program, which airs at 11 p.m. every Friday on NHK, Bryant invited an NHK announcer and the program's MC, Kazuya Matsumoto, to the team's special tryout.
Bryant also appeared in the studio and spoke with the program's cast: Matsumoto, actress Yumiko Shaku and comedian Patrick Harlan. The Feb. 16 program includes an interview with Kobe Bryant and a special session with point guard Yuta Tabuse, the first Japanese-born player to appear in an NBA game.
In other team news, Yasuhiro Ohba has been named a player/assistant coach. Ohba, a Yamagata Prefecture native, played for the team in its inaugural season.
Ohba, a 28-year-old forward, has been sidelined this season. He had surgery on his left knee in November and has endured physical rehabilitation since, working his way back into shape.