After an injury-shortened season with the Toyama Grouses, AJ Edu joins Nagasaki Velca in the Japan B.League, focusing on his recovery and contributing to his new team’s success.
After a short but impressive stint with the Toyama Grouses, Fil-Nigerian center AJ Edu is set to embark on a new chapter in his basketball career with the Nagasaki Velca in the Japan B.League.
Edu, known for his strong defensive presence and rebounding ability, suffered a significant setback in December 2023 when he tore his meniscus, cutting short a promising season.
Despite the injury, the 6-foot-10 big man made a substantial impact in his 14 games with the Grouses, averaging 13.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
His performance earned him recognition as one of the more promising big men in the B.League. And now, as he joins the Velca, Edu is eager to continue his growth and help his new team succeed.
"Looking forward to my second year now in B.League. Looking forward to what our team can accomplish." Edu said during the Japan B.League’s 2024-25 Season Tip-off Conference. "We have an exciting group of players, new stadium, new facilities, so I’m just really looking forward to what we can achieve."
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The 24-year-old center's first year in the B.League provided valuable lessons and insights into the competitiveness of the league.
"I thought the quality of the league was good. Definitely challenging in terms of those back-to-back games," Edu shared. "That was very different for me and different for my body to adjust to, but in general, I really enjoyed the level of play and style of play."
Despite the challenges, Edu felt he had a strong season with the Grouses before the injury. The torn meniscus was the latest in a series of knee injuries that have plagued Edu throughout his career.
"I was thankful to Toyama. I had a lot of freedom to really play with confidence, so it was a good year for me despite the injury last season," he reflected. "I had a lot of freedom to really play with confidence, so it was a good year for me despite the injury last season."
As he prepares for the upcoming season, his primary focus has been on strength and conditioning.
"Honestly, the biggest emphasis was strength and conditioning," Edu explained. "I've had a history of knee injuries, so the biggest factor is just having strong enough legs to carry the power down. That was a big emphasis this summer."
With a new team and a fresh start, Edu is determined to bounce back stronger and continue his upward trajectory in Japan.
First up for Edu and Nagasaki will be the Sun Rockets Shibuya on October 4.