Ryukyu Golden Kings

The Ryukyu Golden Kings are Okinawa’s first ever professional basketball team. In fact, the Kings are Okinawa’s first ever professional sports team. In a day and age where sports have become ubiquitous in society, the birth of the Ryukyu Kings is a huge milestone for Okinawa. Chosen as an ideal franchise location because of its strong affinity for basketball, Okinawa boasts the largest percentage of middle school basketball players in the nation and has won the national tournament a record 6 times. In addition, the strong influence from the American presence on the island has helped boost the popularity of the sport. For example, NBA telecasts have been broadcast in Okinawa since the 1980s. Similarly, basketball fever is highest in Okinawa city, due in part to the nearby American bases.

Okinawa basketball is very fast paced and features quick cuts, quick passes, and quick scoring. It is a style that has been greatly influenced by American basketball. Okinawan schools run this entertaining brand of basketball to perfection.

The Kings are the reigning BJ League Champions of the 08-09 season.

For the Kings third season reigning Coach of the Year Dai Oketani returns to lead the team in what promises to be an exciting season of basketball in Okinawa. Coach Dai brings back his expanded knowledge of the game of Basketball to Okinawa and will continue to be the great leader on the sidelines for the Kings.

Assistant coaches Tsutomu Isa and Keith Richardson return to assist Coach Dai with the Coaching duties for the 09-10 season. Isa is well-versed with Okinawan basketball, and is a minor celebrity in the Okinawan basketball world. His experience as both a player and coach will prove invaluable to the team’s development. Together, they will help mold the team into the fastest, highest scoring, and most entertaining group in the entire league. Richardson brings the knowledge of the American game as a player in the Military Varsity leagues and as a Coach at the same level and as an Asst. Coach with Kubasaki HS and the Fareast Champs of 2007.

Of course, the most important components of a successful basketball team are its players. Having added two players in the off-season in Tsubasa Yonamine who will be the floor general at the Point Guard position brings a wealth of knowledge of the game along with the experience at PG the Kings need to be a successful Team. Also added was Center George Leach, a proven superstar in the BJ League, George will anchor the interior defense that was the best in the BJ League last season. George played beside of Jeff Newton at Indiana University and their knowledge of each others game will be beneficial to the success of the Kings this season .

Returners Shigeyuki Kinjo, Yosuke Sugawara, Taketo Aoki, Yoshiki Yamashiro and Yasufumi Takushi bring back to the Kings their experience of playing on a Championship team in the BJ League and will be expected to step up and contribute minutes for the Kings this season.

Returning to man the middle, the Kings bring back three Americans with BJ League Championship experience in Jeff Newton(Indiana University),  BJ League MVP for the 08-09 Regular season and Playoffs, Anthony McHenry (Georgia Tech) and Bryan Simpson, a former Airman from Kadena Air  Base. All three big men are excellent transition players and provide the strength and power inside to complement the speed and quickness of the Japanese players. This perfect combination of speed and power will provide Okinawa and its people, both Japanese and American, with a team they can be proud to call their own.

Go Kings!