Williams Reflects on Japan Basketball Experience

Playing for the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins in Japan’s B.League this off-season gave Phoenix import Alan Williams the opportunity to continue playing competitive basketball as he looks ahead to NBL24.

Now back home in the United States, ‘Big Sauce’ reflected on his time playing in Japan as a ‘great experience’, while also being able to immerse himself in a different culture.

“I think it gave me decent preparation for NBL24. The NBL season is pretty short, there aren’t a lot of games so it’s easier to take off that time and wait, but I wanted to stay in game-ready shape throughout this summer and it gave me a really good chance to do that,” Williams told Phoenix Media.

(Williams spent the start of his off-season continuing playing in Japan as he prepares for NBL24.)

Williams played 19 games for the Dolphins, after joining the team mid-season, with a win-loss ratio of 15-4, helping lift them to a playoffs berth. He averaged 14.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks.

“The playing style in Japan is a lot more slow-paced. It was a slower pace than the NBA and even slower than the NBL. I was on one of the teams that played a bit faster. A much more physical league than I have played in. Overall, it was a really good brand of basketball,” commented Williams.

“Anywhere you went in the country, basketball-wise, the B.League does a really good job in bringing in foreign talent, but also developing national and local players. Typically, the foreigners are bigs which typically means more post-up opportunities for guys.

“I was able to play well and contribute to most of my team's success at the end of the season.”

Concussion protocols saw Williams miss his team’s playoffs, but a video of ‘Big Sauce’ washing water bottles in the team changerooms went viral on the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins social media accounts.

“More than anything, I just wanted to be there for my teammates. We put in a good amount of time while I was there. I felt like I owed it to them to be there in any capacity, whether that was filling up water bottles, washing them out or carrying bags. I still wanted my impact to be felt; to let the guys know that I am with them,” said Williams.

“There were some really good guys that I got to play with and great people within the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins organisation.”

While playing in Japan, Williams was able to experience their cuisine and as an avid foodie, he commented that it was one of his favourite things about being in the country.

“I got to see a part of the world that I have never been to before. Everywhere I went it was great food and that was due to the fact it is a really big influence on cuisine all around the world,” he said.

“Everything I ate was really good and really tasty. I appreciate trying the cuisine out there and exploring new things.”

Williams will spend time at home in Phoenix Arizona during the remainder of the offseason with family and friends, while continuing to stay in shape for the NBL24 pre-season when he re-joins the Phoenix in Melbourne later this year.

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Phoenix Media (07/06/23)