B. LEAGUE PREMIER launches with Alvark Tokyo vs Ryukyu Golden Kings

The B. LEAGUE PREMIER, a major restructuring of Japan's professional basketball league, is set to debut on September 22, 2026. The inaugural season marks a transition from the previous B1 tier to a more rigorous professional standard known as ‘B. LEAGUE PREMIER.’

Key reforms include stricter club management requirements, such as minimum attendance, revenue targets, and the necessity of arenas with at least 5,000 seats. To ensure competitive balance, the league is introducing a salary cap ranging between 500 million and 800 million yen, alongside a ‘star player clause.’ Additionally, new ‘on-the-court free’ rules will allow teams to field up to three foreign players simultaneously.

The historic opening match will feature Alvark Tokyo against the Ryukyu Golden Kings at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO. This matchup holds symbolic significance, as it mirrors the very first B. LEAGUE game played exactly ten years prior on September 22, 2016. The opening game serves as the launchpad for this new era of Japanese basketball.