Japanese Basketball League (B2 League) History
League status
The B2 League (JBL2) is the second-tier professional basketball league in Japan. B2 League was established in 1981.
The B2 League sits above the B3 League which effectively forms the third-tier of Japanese basketball.
At the end of regular season, top 4 teams qualify to the play-offs.
Limits of non-Japanese players per team: 3 import players (non-Europeans), 3 Bosman players (with European passport) . Total number of allowed imports and Bosmans is 3.
League name history
1981-2005: Japan Basketball League Division II
2005-2016[+]: BJ League
2016[+] until now: B2 League 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
League logos
 Until 2005 |  2005-2016 |  Since 2016 |
Title holders
- 2008-09:
Ryukyu Golden Kings Okinawa - 2009-10:
Hamamatsu Phoenix - 2010-11: Hamamatsu-Higashi Mikawa Phoenix
- 2011-12: Ryukyu Golden Kings Okinawa
- 2012-13:
Yokohama B-Corsairs - 2013-14: Ryukyu Golden Kings Okinawa
- 2014-15: Hamamatsu-Higashi Mikawa Phoenix
- 2015-16: Ryukyu Golden Kings Okinawa
- 2016-17:
Nishinomiya Storks Hyogo
Championships by club
| Titles | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 4 |  Ryukyu GK | 2008-09, 2011-12, 2013-14, 2015-16 |
| 3 | San-en NP | 2009-10, 2010-11, 2014-15 |
| 1 |  FE Nagoya | 2021-22 |
| 1 |  Akita NH | 2017-18 |
| 1 |  Shiga L-Stars | 2023-24 |
| 1 | Yokohama BC | 2012-13 |
| 1 |  Shinshu BW | 2018-19 |
| 1 | Kobe S. | 2016-17 |
| 1 |  Gunma CT | 2020-21 |
| 1 |  Saga B. | 2022-23 |
| 1 |  Chiba | 2024-25 |
Finals year-by-year
Finals participants
| Club | W | L | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryukyu GK | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| San-en NP | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Akita NH | 1 | 2 | 3 |
 Fukuoka R. | 0 | 2 | 2 |
 Toyama G. | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Gunma CT | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| FE Nagoya | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Koshigaya A. | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Sendai 89ers | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Tokyo Apache | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Osaka E. | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Shiga L-Stars | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Shimane SM | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Yokohama BC | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Shinshu BW | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Kobe S. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Ibaraki R. | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Saga B. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Chiba | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Nagasaki | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Final Four participants
| Club | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryukyu GK | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| San-en NP | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Akita NH | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Gunma CT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Chiba | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Kobe S. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Shinshu BW | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Yokohama BC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Shiga L-Stars | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| FE Nagoya | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Saga B. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Toyama G. | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Fukuoka R. | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Osaka E. | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Koshigaya A. | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Shimane SM | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Sendai 89ers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Tokyo Apache | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ibaraki R. | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nagasaki | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
 Kyoto H. | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
 Kumamoto V. | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
 Niigata A. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
 Iwate | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
 Hiroshima D. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
 Kagawa FA | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
 Yamagata | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Players with the most appearances in the Japanese Finals
| Player | Finals Appearances | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Shigeyuki Kinjo | 5 | 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 |
| Anthony McHenry | 5 | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2019 |
| Jeff Newton | 4 | 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014 |
| Yoshiki Yamashiro | 4 | 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014 |
| Masahiro Oguchi | 4 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 |
| Atsuya Ota | 4 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 |
| Naoto Kosuge | 4 | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 |
| Draelon Burns | 4 | 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| Kenya Tomori | 3 | 2009, 2011, 2012 |
| Yasufumi Takushi | 3 | 2009, 2011, 2012 |
Players with the most Japanese titles
| Player | Count | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| Shigeyuki Kinjo | 4 | 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016 |
| Anthony McHenry | 4 | 2012, 2014, 2016, 2019 |
| Draelon Burns | 4 | 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| Jeff Newton | 3 | 2009, 2012, 2014 |
| Yoshiki Yamashiro | 3 | 2009, 2012, 2014 |
| Masahiro Oguchi | 3 | 2010, 2011, 2015 |
| Atsuya Ota | 3 | 2010, 2011, 2015 |
| Morihisa Yamauchi | 3 | 2012, 2014, 2016 |
| Naoto Kosuge | 3 | 2012, 2014, 2016 |
| Shinji Arasihro | 3 | 2014, 2016, 2019 |
