J. R. Sakuragi

J. R. Sakuragi (Japanese: 桜木 ジェイアール, Hepburn: Sakuragi Jei Āru, born Milton J. Henderson Jr.; October 30, 1976) is an American-Japanese professional basketball player.

"J. R. Henderson" redirects here. For the Scottish biologist, see John Robertson Henderson.
J. R. Sakuragi
Sakuragi with the Aisin Seahorses in 2016
Toyama Grouses
PositionSupervising coach
LeagueB.League
Personal information
Born (1976-10-30) October 30, 1976
Bakersfield, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican / Japanese
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight226 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High schoolEast Bakersfield (East Bakersfield, California)
CollegeUCLA (1994–1998)
NBA draft1998: 2nd round, 56th overall pick
Selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies
Playing career1998–2023
PositionPower forward / center
Number52
Career history
As player:
1998–1999Quad City Thunder
1999Vancouver Grizzlies
1999–2001Las Vegas Silver Bandits
2001Paris Basket Racing
2001Marinos de Oriente
2001–2005Aisin Seahorses
2005Marinos de Anzoátegui
2006Grises de Humacao
2006–2007Aisin Seahorses
2007Grises de Humacao
2007–2020Aisin Seahorses
2023Koshigaya Alphas
As coach:
2020-2021Aisin AW Wings
2021-2023Koshigaya Alphas
2023-presentToyama Grouses
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
FIBA Asia Challenge
Silver medal – second place 2012 TokyoTeam

Biography

Raised in Bakersfield, California, Sakuragi played college basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and was a member of the Bruins' national championship team in 1994–95. He was able to play all five positions.[1] On the NCAA championship team in his freshman year, Sakuragi was named the team's most valuable freshman along with Toby Bailey.[2] He was named to the All-Pac-10 first team during his sophomore and senior seasons,[3] and was also named the Bruins' co-most valuable player both years as well.[4] He averaged 14.2 points per game in his four-year career at the school. He was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 2nd round (56th pick) of the 1998 NBA draft where he played one season.[5]

Sakuragi played the next two years for teams in Las Vegas and France and summer-league teams in Puerto Rico and the Philippines.[6] In 2001, he moved to Japan to play for the Aisin Seahorses of the JBL Super League, averaging 21.5 points and 11.6 rebounds per game in 2006.[5]

Sakuragi's application to become a naturalized Japanese citizen cleared on July 2, 2007, and he changed his name from J. R. Henderson to J. R. Sakuragi.[5][7] He chose his new name for two reasons: firstly, he thought a Japanese name would speed up the naturalization, and secondly for the Japanese sakura cherry blossoms. It also corresponded to the name of Hanamichi Sakuragi, the protagonist of the popular basketball manga Slam Dunk.[6]

Sakuragi played for the Japan national team as they competed in the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship, a qualifier for the 2008 Summer Olympics.[8]

To comply with Japanese naturalization requirements, Sakuragi taught himself to read, speak and write Japanese at a "rudimentary level". He intended to stay in Japan without intention of returning to live in the U.S.[6]

References
  1. Bolch, Ben; Maddy, Eric (March 21, 2020). "Where are they now? A look at UCLA's 1995 NCAA men's basketball championship team". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  2. Finney, Ryan (2010). "2010–11 UCLA Men's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). UCLA Athletic Department. p. 111. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2011.
  3. Finney 2010, p. 105.
  4. Finney 2010, p. 110.
  5. Kaz Nagatsuka, Former UCLA player gets Japanese citizenship, spot on national hoops team, The Japan Times, July 17, 2007.
  6. Former Bruin is now Japan’s J.R. Sakuragi, Los Angeles Times, January 21, 2008.
  7. Jerry Crowe, Former Bruin a true citizen of the world, Los Angeles Times, July 24, 2007.
  8. Jerry Crowe, Former Bruin finds security in his adopted homeland, Los Angeles Times, July 24, 2007.
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