What has been expected for many months is now official: Makoto Hasegawa is set to retire after this season, the Akita Sakigake Shimpo and other media outlets reported on Tuesday, Hasegawa¡¯s 42nd birthday.
The veteran point guard, who has only appeared in eight games and logged 32 minutes of court time this season, has been a well-known face in the bj-league since its inception in 2005.
He played for the Niigata Albirex BB from 2002, when it was in the JBL, until joining his home prefecture¡¯s team in 2010, when it entered the bj-league. He has been a mentor for the team¡¯s younger players, a playing manager and a key figure in bringing corporate sponsors on board for the Eastern Conference club.
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