At 41 years old, Joji Takeuchi is averaging 23 minutes and 48 seconds of playing time per game for the Osaka Evessa in the B.League, logging an increased workload of 9 minutes and 50 seconds compared to the previous season as the team navigates a wave of early-season injuries. The 207-centimeter player has embraced his extended minutes under head coach Hiroki Fujita, matching up against foreign opponents while adapting to the league’s new roster regulations.
Osaka Evessa Faces Roster Constraints
Osaka’s early-season rotation has been depleted by injuries. New signing Volodymyr Gerin was sidelined before the opening tip, while interior anchor Sebastian Saize missed action starting from the sixth game of the campaign against Altiri Chiba. With native players such as Yasunori Aoki also unavailable, the Evessa have relied on new scoring option James Palmer Jr., substitute big man Damonte Dodd, and Asian special quota player Song Kyo-chang. This has forced Takeuchi and Dodd to shoulder the bulk of the interior responsibilities during a difficult stretch that included a 90–97 loss to Altiri Chiba on October 9.
Joji Takeuchi Embraces Extended Playing Time
During the October 9 contest against Altiri Chiba, Takeuchi logged 29 minutes and 39 seconds on the floor—his longest appearance of the season—while defending 220-centimeter center Kai Sotto and other foreign players. Fujita praised the veteran’s defensive intensity following the match. Across the first seven games of the B.League season, Takeuchi’s average playing time climbed by 9 minutes and 50 seconds from the prior year. Takeuchi maintains that the squad retains a competitive mindset, focusing on defensive execution and collective resilience until injured teammates return to the rotation.
B.League Rule Changes Alter Big Man Roles
The increased reliance on domestic big men coincides with the B.League’s adoption of the “on-the-court free” rule, which permits three foreign players and one naturalized or Asian special quota player on the floor simultaneously. This regulatory shift heightens the impact of foreign personnel and magnifies the consequences of injuries within club rosters. Alongside Takeuchi, other domestic big men—including Gen Hiraiwa at Alvark Tokyo, twin brother Kosuke Takeuchi at Utsunomiya Brex, and young player Reion Watanabe of Altiri Chiba—have seen opportunities to contribute.
Shifting Tactical Demands and Technical Growth
Entering the new season, Takeuchi initially anticipated serving as the team's third-choice interior option, spending his summer training sessions refining his three-point shooting. Instead, injuries thrust him into a different role.
Upcoming Fixtures for the Osaka Evessa
Osaka continues its B.League schedule following a 90–97 defeat to Altiri Chiba on October 9 and a loss to Alvark Tokyo on October 12, looking to halt a six-game skid as the team awaits the recovery of its injured players.
Worth a look
