B.League: 25 B1 & 3 B2 Clubs Confirmed for 2024-25 Season

Increase the number of B-one participating clubs by setting up a new provisional membership procedure

On October 21, the B League announced the results of club license decisions for the 2026-27 season. The B.League will move to a new category from the 2026-27 season, and will have a three-category system with “B.LEAGUE PREMIR” (hereinafter referred to as “B Premier”) at the top, followed by “B.LEAGUE ONE” (hereinafter referred to as “B One”), and “B.LEAGUE NEXT” (hereinafter referred to as “B Next”).

26 clubs have been decided to participate in B-1, including the Fighting Eagles Nagoya, Kumamoto Volters, and Kagoshima Revnize (see list below). All 23 clubs, excluding the three clubs listed on the left, are clubs that hold B-Next licenses, but they will participate in the competition through the form of “B-One Temporary Membership,” which is given to clubs that meet the requirements of “average attendance of 1,500 people, sales of 250 million yen, and the ability to secure a B-One specification arena for at least 60% of all home games.” Chairman Shinji Shimada explained that the reason for this was that as the number of participating clubs in B Premier increased from the original 18 clubs to 26, there was a concern that there would be fewer clubs affiliated with B One, which “will serve as a casting boat for the B League, which aims to become a regional revitalization league.” “The aim is to encourage the growth of each club by temporarily allowing them to enter B-1.”

With B-One’s provisional admission, only three clubs will be joining B-Next: Shinagawa City Basketball Club, Viatin Mie, and Yamaguchi Pats Five. Shonan United BC will continue deliberations at the temporary licensing board meeting to be held on October 30th, as it is unclear whether Shonan United BC will meet the excessive debt resolution plan or the financing standards. Chairman Shimada frankly expressed his feelings about the situation, saying, “I have some mixed feelings,” but added, “While I am positive that the number of clubs that have grown as a result of the efforts of many clubs to aim for the top, I hope that the remaining clubs are doing their best.” We will continue to build momentum so that we can envision a future in which the league enters B-One.” He expressed his intention to increase the number of participating clubs by carrying out projects such as the “B League 47 Prefecture Project,” and to work hard to establish a B-Next league.

【B one license granting club】
fighting eagles nagoya
Kumamoto Volters
Kagoshima Revnize

[B One Temporary Membership Club]
Aomori Watts
iwate big bulls
Yamagata Wyverns
Fukushima Firebonds
Koshigaya Alphars
saitama broncos
Tokyo United Basketball Club
Earth Friends Tokyo Z
Tachikawa dice
Tokyo Hachioji Beat Trains
Yokohama Excellence
Niigata Albirex BB
Kanazawa samurai group
Fukui Blowwinds
Gifu Swoops
Vertex Shizuoka
bambicious nara
tri hoop okayama
Tokushima Gambarou’s
Kagawa Five Arrows
Ehime Orange Vikings
Rising Zephyr Fukuoka