Ryukyu Golden Kings (琉球ゴールデンキングス, Ryūkyū Gōruden Kingusu) are a Japanese professional basketball team based in Okinawa City, Okinawa. They compete in the B.League, the top-tier professional basketball league of Japan.[1]

Ryukyu Golden Kings
Ryukyu Golden Kings logo
LeaguesB.League
Founded2007; 17 years ago (2007)
ArenaOkinawa Arena
Capacity10,000
LocationOkinawa, Okinawa
Team colorsChampagne Gold, Steel Blue and Pearl Red
     
Main sponsorZenhoren
PresidentTatsuro Kimura
Head coachDai Oketani
Championships1 B.League
4 bj League
Conference titles6 bj League Western Conference
Retired numbers1 (50)
Websitegoldenkings.jp

The Golden Kings have won the Japanese national title five times, as they won the bj league four times (2009, 2012, 2014, 2016) and the B.League once (2023). They were also losing B.League finalists once (2022).[2][3]

Honours

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Domestic

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  • bj league champions: 4
    • 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016

Continental

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Players

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Ryukyu Golden Kings roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Age
PG 3   Tatsuya Ito 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) 30 – (1994-11-26)26 November 1994
SF 4   Vic Law 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 29 – (1995-12-19)19 December 1995
F 8   Yoshiya Uematsu 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 26 – (1998-12-18)18 December 1998
G 10   Hayate Arakawa 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) 27 – (1997-07-25)25 July 1997
F 12   Keve Aluma 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 25 – (1998-12-31)31 December 1998
G 14   Ryuichi Kishimoto 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) 34 – (1990-05-17)17 May 1990
G 15   Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 27 – (1997-05-15)15 May 1997
G 18   Masahiro Waki 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 22 – (2002-03-11)11 March 2002
G 34   Shota Onodera 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) 30 – (1994-11-06)6 November 1994
C 45   Jack Cooley 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 33 – (1991-04-12)12 April 1991
C 53   Alex Kirk 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 33 – (1991-11-14)14 November 1991
Head coach

Dai Oketani

Assistant coach(es)

Takahiro Morishige
Kensuke Hosaka
Anthony McHenry
Keith Richardson


Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  •   Injured

Updated: October 5, 2024

Coaches

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Seasons

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B.League

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[4]

Season Result Regular Season Record (W-L) Playoff Record
2016-2017 QuarterFinals 29-31 0-2
2017-2018 SemiFinals 42-18 2-3
2018-2019 SemiFinals 40-20 3-3
2019-2020 N/A 27-14 Playoffs cancelled (COVID-19)
2020-2021 SemiFinals 40-16 3-3
2021-2022 Finals 49-7 4-2
2022-2023 Champions 48-12 6-0
Key
Champions
Losing Finalists
Made the Playoffs

Notable players

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Convenience store in Okinawa

Arenas

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "JPBLの「1部~3部階層分け発表記者会見」について" [Regarding the JPBL's "Division 1-3 Assignment Press Conference"] (in Japanese). Nishinomiya Storks. 30 July 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  2. ^ "2022-23シーズン優勝のご報告". 琉球ゴールデンキングス (in Japanese). 28 May 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Ryukyu Golden Kings sweep Chiba Jets for first B. League title". The Japan Times. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  4. ^ "順位表 - B.LEAGUE(Bリーグ)公式サイト". B.LEAGUE(Bリーグ)公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 September 2017.
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