This division in the administration of the sport resulted in FIBA suspending the JBA from November 2014 until August 2015.

In November 2004 the formation of the bj league was officially announced, with four newly-formed clubs (Oita Heat Devils, Osaka Deinonychus, Sendai 89ers and Tokyo Apache) to join the Niigata and Saitama teams.

The inaugural game occurred on November 5, 2005 at Ariake Coliseum between the Tokyo Apache and Niigata Albirex.

The inclusion of the Takamatsu and Toyama teams saw the league separate into 4-team Eastern and Western conferences in the 2006–07 season.

[4] For its final season the number increased to 24 with the addition of Kanazawa Samuraiz and Hiroshima Lightning.