B.LEAGUE revels in Utsunomiya title celebration

Utsunomiya Brex, your B.LEAGUE champions

The Japan Professional Basketball League capped off a banner 2024-25 season with the Utsunomiya Brex claiming the Resona Group B.LEAGUE Finals championship in a three-game battle against Ryukyu Golden Kings.

League chairman Shinji Shimada shares, "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the tremendous support and cooperation from fans, partners, and stakeholders, including local governments, throughout this season. The Resona Group B.LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP 2024-25 showcased thrilling and intense matches truly befitting the grand finale of B.LEAGUE. Congratulations to Utsunomiya Brex for capturing the championship after a fierce battle. Their performance, while carrying the legacy of the late Coach Kevin Braswell, demonstrated overwhelming strength, securing the top spot in the championship and etching a new chapter in B.LEAGUE history, inspiring many people."

He adds, "Although they fell short of the championship, Ryukyu Golden Kings also achieved the remarkable feat of advancing to the finals for four consecutive years, showcasing their unwavering strength. The high-level offensive and defensive plays of both teams provided us with immense excitement and inspiration."

In addition, the league was ecstatic to share its attendance figures, with the numbers showing its highest total since its establishment in 2016-17 at 4,845,109 (including postseason). This is up from last season's total of 4,515,851.

As the B.LEAGUE marks its tenth anniversary in the coming season, they are committed to provide what it calls as "Kokoro, tagiru." (heart-pumping) games, as well as live sports entertainment through game operations, broadcasts, and streams. 

Shimada also remarks about the league's upcoming anniversary, "The 2025-26 season will mark the 10th anniversary of B.LEAGUE’s founding, and it will be the final season before our next stage of innovation. We will continue striving to become a league that is more accessible, inspiring, and proud to be recognized worldwide. We look forward to your continued support of B.LEAGUE."

Promoted sides A Chiba and Toyama enter the top flight B1 in its final such season, with the former joining the champions Brex and these teams in the Eastern Region: Hokkaido, Sendai, Akita, Ibaraki, Gunma, Koshigaya, Chiba J, A Tokyo, SR Shibuya, Kawasaki, and Yokohama BC.

The latter is bracketed in the Western Region, alongside the Golden Kings and these teams: San-en, Mikawa, FE Nagoya, Nagoya D, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Shimane, Hiroshima, Saga, and Nagasaki.

As for B2, they are split into two seven-team divisions, with the promotion of Iwate and Yokohama EX.

The two are slotted into the Eastern Region with Aomori, Yamagata, Fukushima, Fukui, and Shinshu, with the rest (Shizuoka, Kobe, Nara, Ehime, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima) comprising the Western Region.