This article was published by The Japan Times in May 2017.

B.LEAGUE NOTEBOOK | Former UCLA coach Lavin, five-time NBA All-Star Marques Johnson reflect on Sakuragi’s poise, intelligence

By Ed Odeven

Longevity is just one aspect of J.R. Sakuragi’s successful basketball career.

In exclusive interviews with The Japan Times, former UCLA and St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin, and ex-UCLA and ex-NBA star Marques Johnson reflected on the unique personality and skill set that have defined veteran SeaHorses Mikawa forward’s on-court presence throughout his career.

Looking back on his formative years, including at UCLA, Lavin and Johnson recalled Sakuragi’s talent shining through.

Lavin was an assistant to Jim Harrick before taking over the top spot in 1996.

Before becoming a naturalized Japanese citizen in 2007, Sakuragi was known by his given name (Henderson), and helped UCLA win an NCAA championship during the 1994-95 season when he was a college freshman, and Lavin had a front-row seat to watch Sakuragi’s rise to prominence. The Bruins defeated Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament final in Seattle.

Now 40 years old, he is a longtime fixture on the powerhouse SeaHorses squad.

Sakuragi, a former Vancouver Grizzlies player during the 1998-99 season, made his debut with the ex-JBL/NBL club, which was formerly called the Aisin SeaHorses, in 2001. In the years that followed, he has provided stability and brilliant all-around play for the Aichi Prefecture-based club.

This season, Sakuragi averaged 11.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 57 games. He was No. 2 overall in the league in assists, a remarkable accomplishment for a player his age in any pro league. Above all, he has the hoop IQ and ability to play all five positions.

But Lavin, for one, isn’t surprised by Sakuragi’s sustained excellence.

Why?

“Even as a freshman at UCLA, J.R. exhibited exceptional poise, purpose and intelligence,” Lavin told The Japan Times.

“He played at his own unique purposeful and deliberate pace — allowing him to see the game with clarity.”

J.R. Sakuragi

Asked what he considers the biggest reason that Sakuragi continues to excel at age 40, Lavin dished out this insight: J.R.’s style of play and career are analogous to the lessons learned from the tortoise and hare fable. With a steady, efficient, and skillful approach he has outlasted all his peers.”

Efficient, indeed. Sakuragi takes long, graceful strides on the court. He moves with purpose and knows how to pace himself.

“No athlete I coached burned physical and psychic fuel more effectively,” Lavin observed.

Even though Sakuragi’s UCLA career came long after legendary Bruins bench boss John Wooden’s retirement in 1975, J.R. embodied the coach’s principles.

“One of Coach Wooden’s favorite quotes was ‘never mistake activity for achievement,’ and JR’s career exemplifies purposeful achievement winning out over activity,” Lavin stated.

Johnson was a star on Wooden’s final UCLA team, which captured its 10th title during his sophomore season. In 1977, the Milwaukee Bucks made him the No. 3 overall draft pick.

A five-time NBA All-Star forward, Johnson has keen perspective on Sakuragi’s career and characteristics, both on and off the court.

“I’ve known J.R. since he was 14 and playing with my son and his future UCLA teammate Kristaan (Kris) Johnson,” the elder Johnson, a TV analyst for the Milwaukee Bucks, told The Japan Times. “He played on a (youth) team coached by former college head coach Bob Gottlieb. Bob’s son and sports media personality Doug was on the team as well as Miles Simon, who was the MVP of the ’97 Final Four while he was at Arizona. A lot of great talent.

“J.R. was probably 6-foot-5 (195 cm) then and moved fluidly for a guy his age and size. He could dribble, shoot and pass as well as anyone. He was extremely quiet and was not a trash talker at all. But I remember on those few occasions he did get tested he never backed down. Actually, he had a mean streak I wasn’t aware of.”

Sakuragi’s college career included a textbook example of poise during his first season with the Bruins.

Here’s Marques Johnson’s recollection: “(J.R.) showed his mental toughness when he hit two big free throws to beat Kentucky in the final seconds of a close game his freshman year.”

Additional news items followed the lead-in item on Sakuragi in this basketball notebook.