Kevin Braswell brought infectious energy, coaching acumen and a passion for winning to the basketball court.
Intensely focused on making improvements in every practice and every game, the Baltimore-born mentor was a dynamic addition to the coaching staff of two B.League clubs, the Akita Northern Happinets and the Utsunomiya Brex, in recent years.
Braswell coached his final game before the B.League All-Star break on January 12, leading the Brex to a 96-87 home win over the Northern Happinets. With the win, Utsunomiya improved to 25-5 in Braswell's first season as head coach. He served the previous season as the Brex's associate head coach, helping the squad achieve a league-best record of 51 wins and nine losses.
Sadly, while putting his stamp on the Brex's identity as a title-chasing team, Braswell's life took an unexpected turn in mid-January. He was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack and needed emergency triple bypass surgery on January 17.
Braswell remained hospitalized for several weeks, during which the Brex turned to New Zealander Zico Coronel to serve as acting head coach.
On Monday, February 24, the Brex announced that Braswell had passed away that day at a hospital in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. He was 46.
Remembering Kevin Braswell
In recent days, tributes poured in for Braswell on social media and via traditional media outlets.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott was among those who paid tribute to the former 6-foot-2 playmaker.
"There are so many young men and women who grew up playing basketball in Baltimore, looking up to him, wearing those Georgetown jerseys, because he was there," Scott said.
"We would like to express our heartfelt respect and gratitude to Mr Braswell for his dedication to the development of the club and his contribution to the growth of the team over the course of two seasons," the Brex said in a statement.
In a fitting tribute to Braswell's zest for winning, Utsunomiya won its first game since his passing, beating the visiting Levanga Hokkaido 81-64 on Saturday, March 1.
The Brex lead the B.League's eight-team Eastern Conference with a 32-6 record.
Brex backup guard Atsuya Ogawa, who is 22, contributed 10 points, two assists and a steal in the series-opening win.
"It was a very difficult situation, but I'm glad we were able to come together and win the game with a strong spirit," Ogawa told reporters.
"Head coach Braswell told me to keep working hard because you will be a great player, and I learned a lot from his attitude toward basketball."
Teammate Makoto Hiejima, who scored 14 points, added, "I think we prepared as well as we could while supporting each other as a team. We said goodbye to Kevin, vowing that we would definitely win this season with our style of basketball."
Braswell's Successor Shares Thoughts
Coronel, who stepped in during Braswell's absence in January, spoke after Saturday's game in a press conference.
He exuded class in discussing the sorrow surrounding the team and in showing appreciation to the Levanga for their patience during a pregame moment of silence.
"Obviously, KB is dear to us," Coronel said. "Probably, I don't know if [the Levanga] had anyone on their team that has ever been on the same team as him. But the respect they showed in joining us, we thank them for this, and they gave us a great challenge."
Coronel acknowledged the news of Braswell's passing was "a big shock for everyone but we all came together [on Monday]. We were all together at the hospital."
The funeral took place on Tuesday, February 25.
In preparing to play a two-game series against Hokkaido, training sessions on Thursday and Friday were "really, really good quality trainings. And I think the guys deserve immense credit and also the staff, the sacrifices that they made… they had to put the players first no matter how they may be feeling."
Happinets Coach Reacts to Braswell's Death
Reacting to the news of Braswell's passing, Northern Happinets head Kenzo Maeda issued a statement on Tuesday.
"I am speechless and torn by the news of the passing of head coach Kevin Braswell," said Maeda. "My deepest sympathies go out to his family and all those involved with him."
Maeda took a leave of absence as Akita head coach before the 2022-23 season when his wife Natsumi became ill. After Natsumi's passing that preseason, Braswell stepped in and guided the team.
To this day, Maeda is grateful for the positive energy and moral support Braswell gave him and the team that season.
"I spent many days with him during the 2021-22 season, which was the club's first playoff appearance [in the B.League]," Maeda recalled. "The following season, he took care of me, fought and protected Akita [on my behalf]. His positive and confident personality was a great source of energy for Akita."
He added, "His love became my zest for life. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the passion and love he poured into my life. We must not stop. I will cherish the precious days he wanted to live and I will go on with my own life. [And] I would like to express my sincere condolences."
Kevin Braswell: A Distinguished Career in College and Overseas Pro Leagues
Braswell's basketball talents led to a four-year collegiate career at Georgetown University (1998-2002). He started all 128 games he appeared in during his years with the Hoyas, averaging 13.6 points, and left Georgetown as the school's all-time leader in steals (349) and assists (695). Braswell remains the all-time leader in both categories.
In his successful pro career, Braswell suited up for teams in France, Italy, Israel, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Turkey, New Zealand, among others. He began his pro career in 2002 in Belgium and retired in 2016 after a stint with New Zealand's Wellington Saints.
With the New Zealand Breakers, he won an Australian NBL title in 2011, and collected two more with the New Zealand NBL's Southland Sharks in 2013 and '15.
SB Nation's Casual Hoya blog published a heartfelt tribute to Braswell.
Perhaps two passages from the article best capture Braswell's life and legacy as a basketball player and coach.
"Beyond the statistics, Braswell embodied the spirit of Georgetown basketball," the blog reported. "He was a workhorse, a leader, and a player who always gave his all on the court. His impact on the program extended beyond his playing days, as he inspired countless young Hoyas with his dedication and passion for the game."
Later in the article, the tribute included the following:
"Kevin Braswell's passing is a tremendous loss for the basketball world. He was a talented player, a respected coach, and a true ambassador for the game. His journey from a determined freshman at Georgetown to a head coach in Japan is a testament to his dedication, perseverance, and love for basketball.
"...The Georgetown community will forever cherish the memories of this remarkable individual and the impact he had on the program."
Advocating Comprehensive Health Checks for Coaches
For the past several years, the National Basketball Coaches Association has conducted health and heart screenings for NBA head coaches and assistant coaches. Health checks take place during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
It's a proactive policy to help identify potential life-threatening issues.
Asked if the B.League has established a similar plan, Gunma Crane Thunders bench boss Kyle Milling confirmed one doesn't exist.
"The B.League or clubs do not have any medical check for coaches or staff," Milling told SportsLook. "I do think they probably should."
He added, "I know many companies do medical checks for their employees, but in basketball, it does not exist. [And] I do hope something can change from this sad situation."
Braswell's playing credentials were highlighted above. His career trajectory as a coach over the past decade was also impressive. It included back-to-back NZNBL titles as the Wellington Saints head coach in 2016 and '17.
RELATED:
- New Boss in Utsunomiya: Kevin Braswell Promoted to Head Coach of the B.League Squad
- [ODDS and EVENS] Kevin Braswell Brings Wealth of Basketball Experience to Akita Northern Happinets
Lakers' Hachimura Sidelined with a Knee Injury
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura will be sidelined for at least a week with a left knee injury, head coach JJ Reddick said on Friday, February 28.
Hachimura stepped off the court in the third quarter due to a knee strain in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
Medical tests revealed that Hachimura has left patellar tendinopathy, commonly referred to as jumper's knee.
Hachimura is averaging 13.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 50 games this season.
The Lakers (37-21) won their fifth straight game on Friday, beating the Los Angeles Clippers 106-102.
Kawamura Notches a Double-Double
In other basketball news, Memphis Hustle point guard Yuki Kawamura dished out 16 assists in an NBA G League game against the Stockton Kings on Thursday.
Kawamura also scored 11 points in the Hustle's 120-108 road loss in Stockton, California. He's averaging 12.9 points and 9.1 assists in the 2024-25 G League season.
Nordic Combined
Kasai Captures World Title in Norway
Yuna Kasai made history at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway on Thursday, February 27, becoming the first Japanese woman to earn an individual gold medal in the meet.
Kasai finished in first place in the Nordic combined mass start normal hill event, which features a 5-km cross country skiing leg and a ski jumping competition.
The 21-year-old amassed 121.0 points to secure the gold.
Kasai sat in third place after the cross country skiing portion of the Nordic combined, then soared 96.5 meters on her best ski jumping attempt to grab the top spot.
Two-time world champion Gyda Westvold Hansen of Norway placed second with 118.7 points. Haruka Kasai, Yuna's twin sister, collected the bronze with 115.6 points.
"It is unbelievable," Yuna Kasai told reporters, reacting to the outcome at the world championships. "I can't believe this is actually happening. The fact we are both on the podium makes me twice as happy."
Boxing
Top Rank Executive Predicts Additional Titles for Nakatani
Top Rank Vice President of Boxing Operations Carl Moretti quickly shared his views of Junto Nakatani's third-round knockout victory over David Cuellar on Monday, February 24.
In an article published on RingMagazine.com on the same day, Moretti predicted that WBC bantamweight champion Nakatani (30-0, 23 knockouts) has the talent to keep winning world titles.
"He continues to show his dominance in this weight class and is only getting better," Moretti said. "No doubt you're seeing a future champion at 122, 126 and maybe even 130 [pounds]."
Rudy Hernandez, Nakatani's trainer, was also impressed with his performance against Cuellar at Tokyo's Ariake Arena.
"I did expect a really good performance from Junto ― he did his job," Hernandez said, according to the boxing website. "If you're in the top 10 pound-for-pound, you have to show why in every fight."
Talking Points After Nakatani's Successful Title Defense
The Nakatani-Cuellar title bout was the subject of my latest X (formerly Twitter) Spaces conversation. Joining me to analyze the fight was SportsLook reporter Colin Morrison.
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Baseball
Ohtani Belts Homer in 1st Spring Training At-Bat
Los Angeles Dodgers leadoff hitter Shohei Ohtani smacked an opposite field home run in his first at-bat of spring training on Friday, February 28.
Facing Los Angeles Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, Ohtani bashed a 3-2 fastball over the left-field fence at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona.
Ohtani finished 1-for-3 in the Dodgers' 6-5 win. He hit a pop fly in the second inning against Kikuchi and struck out in his final at-bat.
After having offseason surgery on his left shoulder to repair a torn labrum, Ohtani is getting back in the swing of things.
"The most important thing is that I was able to get through my three scheduled at-bats," Ohtani was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "I was able to see a variety of pitches and get in some swings."
He then said, "I'll gradually get my swing to where it should be."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani's road to recovery after surgery is going well.
"There's some subtleties [in his swing] that he's kind of been working on from last year, when he was really good, to when he had the injury, to where he's at right now," Roberts said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I think he's in a really good spot."
Briefly…
The Kashima Antlers matched a J.League record by extending their home unbeaten streak to 25 soccer matches on Saturday, March 1. Kashima topped FC Tokyo 2-0 to tie the league mark set by the Urawa Reds, Gamba Osaka and Kawasaki Frontale.
Yuma Suzuki and Shu Morooka scored goals in the win.
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Quote of the Week
"I almost lost my footing around 35 kilometers, [and] I was fighting with myself to keep my legs moving. [But] I was determined to win the race."
―Ryota Kondo on his second-place finish in the Osaka Marathon on February 24, NHK reported. The 25-year-old set a Japanese record for marathon debutants with a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 39 seconds, placing two seconds behind Ethiopia's Yihunilign Adane.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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