Josh Harrellson just completed his sixth professional season in Japan and the former UK player and his family love life in Japan. (Hitachi Sun Rockers Photo)
Josh Harrellson certainly had a memorable career at the University of Kentucky playing for coaches Billy Gillispie and then John Calipari.
Those moments ranged from Gillispie making him sit in a bathroom stall at halftime of a game at Vanderbilt because of the way he was playing to irritating Calipari when he questioned the coach’s lack of praise for his rebounding effort in the preseason Blue-White Game. But he also went from barely playing during the 2009-2010 Final Four season to having a huge role in UK getting back to the 2011 Final Four.
He had a 24-point, 14-rebound game against Louisville and also led the Southeastern Conference in rebounding (8.8 per game). He had 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in an upset win against Ohio State and All-American Jared Sullinger in the NCAA Tournament before coming back with 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists in the East Region final win over North Carolina.
Harrellson, who earned the nickname Jorts at UK for wearing jean shorts, was a second-round NBA draft pick and had brief stints with several NBA teams and also played overseas in three countries before finding a home in Japan where he has been productive and popular. He averaged 11 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steals per game last season in 52 games for the Hitachi Sun Rockers
Recently I was able to connect with Harrellson in Japan after his season ended and told him it was hard to believe he is still getting paid to play basketball.
Harrellson: “It is crazy to believe sometimes. I have been really blessed with a healthy body and good work ethic. It sometimes blows my mind that I just finished year 11 looking forward to year 12,” Harrellson said.
“This was my sixth season in Japan. Life in Japan is actually very good. It is the safest place I have ever been to. The people here are so respectful and nice. My family and I absolutely love Japan. I see myself playing 2-4 more years in Japan. I’m trying to obtain Japanese nationality to prolong my career even more.”
Harrellson has his own thoughts on why his professional career has lasted so long.
“To be honest I think my career has been going for this long because I’m a great guy and a good basketball player. I am professional, I work hard and I keep myself out of problems,” he said.
“It hasn’t been too hard in Japan to keep my career going. Every team needs a glue guy that does all the little things that make the team successful.”
