Tokyo Apache coach Joe Bryant, father of Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, will appear on the NHK program ¡°Eigo de Shaberanaito¡± on Feb. 16, the bj-league team announced.
During the program, which airs at 11 p.m. every Friday on NHK, Bryant invited an NHK announcer and the program¡¯s MC, Kazuya Matsumoto, to the team¡¯s special tryout.
Bryant also appeared in the studio and spoke with the program¡¯s cast: Matsumoto, actress Yumiko Shaku and comedian Patrick Harlan. The Feb. 16 program includes an interview with Kobe Bryant and a special session with point guard Yuta Tabuse, the first Japanese-born player to appear in an NBA game.
In other team news, Yasuhiro Ohba has been named a player/assistant coach. Ohba, a Yamagata Prefecture native, played for the team in its inaugural season.
Ohba, a 28-year-old forward, has been sidelined this season. He had surgery on his left knee in November and has endured physical rehabilitation since, working his way back into shape.
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