Nagoya Diamond Dolphins match B.LEAGUE record with 10-0 start, only unbeaten team

The Nagoya Diamond Dolphins won their first 10 games of the season, matching the B.LEAGUE record for the best start. Nagoya D is the only team in the league that remains unbeaten. During the same period, point guard Takumi Saito reached 400 career league games.

Takumi Saito is the point guard for Nagoya D. A point guard, who is also called a playmaker, handles the ball for teammates and is responsible for organizing the team's offense. The milestone of 400 games reflects a long career in the league.

The B.LEAGUE is Japan's men's professional league, which began in 2016 when the NBL and the bj League merged. Standings are determined by winning percentage, and points are not used. As a result, winning games and maintaining a high winning percentage directly affects the standings.

A 10-game winning start means a team got through the early season without a loss. Winning streaks from the start of a season tend to draw attention as a measure of early-season momentum. However, standings are based on winning percentage over the full season, so an early streak does not necessarily translate directly into the final standings.

Starting with the 2026-27 season, the B.LEAGUE will be divided into three tiers: B.LEAGUE PREMIER for the first division, B.LEAGUE ONE for the second division, and B.LEAGUE NEXT for the third division. Even with the new structure, standings will continue to be determined by winning percentage.

The question for Nagoya D is whether it can remain unbeaten in upcoming games. Even if the winning streak ends, the fact that the team matched the B.LEAGUE record with a 10-game start will remain. With standings decided by winning percentage, the key issue will be how maintaining the streak affects the race.

Winning streaks from the start of a season are a measure fans and the media watch closely to gauge a team's strength and style of play. Saito, who has reached 400 career games, will also remain central to the team's play as an experienced leader.

Seasons are long, and maintaining strong early results requires injury prevention and roster depth. Nagoya D's reasons for staying unbeaten, and whether its strength will continue, will need to be confirmed through future results.

Basketball Press view

A winning streak from the start of the season shows that a team has piled up wins early. Because B.LEAGUE standings are based on winning percentage and points are not used, losing fewer games directly affects the standings. Matching the B.LEAGUE record with a 10-game start and remaining the league's only unbeaten team shows that Nagoya D has been playing steadily early in the season. However, maintaining a streak over a long season is difficult, and how the team plays from here will be the key to judging it. Saito's 400 career games reflect his accumulated experience as a core player for the team.

This article was written by the Basketball Press editors based on the cited reports. AI is used to assist in writing and translating our articles. Please check the source for full details and exact figures.