Never a superstar, but always a hard-working, team-first player, shooting guard Jumpei Nakama has enjoyed popularity and the respect of his peers since the bj-league¡¯s inception in 2005. He¡¯s been a fan favorite throughout the country as the league has grown nonstop for nearly a decade.
As the league closes in on its 10th season in 2014-15, the number of players who¡¯ve been in the league since day one is dwindling. With Nakama¡¯s planned retirement at the conclusion of the Shiga Lakestars season, that fraternity will be even smaller.
The 31-year-old Hiroshima native announced earlier this week that this will be his final season, citing physical limitations after years of competitive basketball. He¡¯s played in 41 games for the Lakestars (25-23 entering this weekend) and is averaging 5.3 points and more than 2.0 assists.
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