Shooting guard Masashi Joho and forward Ira Brown form a dynamic one-two punch for the Toyama Grouses, a partnership that has helped the Hokuriku-based team make significant improvements — notably a steady increase in wins — in each of their three seasons together.

Here's a quick snapshot of their profound impact: Toyama capped a sensational regular season with 11 straight victories and 15 wins in its past 16 games. The Grouses finished 42-10, including a league-best 22-4 road record, to capture the Eastern Conference's regular-season title for the first time in the franchise's eight-year history.

On Wednesday, Joho, a Hokkaido native, became the first Japanese player in the bj-league's nine-season history to be named regular-season MVP. Joho averaged a career-high 17.4 points per game, No. 8 overall in the league. He also placed in the top 10 in minutes played (1,739, No. 8) with a nonstop hustle and determination to excel while also exhibiting a joie de vivre on the court that's contagious for his teammates.