Star guards Kei Igarashi and Shinsuke Kashiwagi were reunited this season and are cherishing the opportunity to once again don the same jersey, this time for the Central Division-leading Niigata Albirex BB.

They were brought back together when Kashiwagi signed with the Hokuriku team before the 2018-19 season. The two had previously played together for the Hitachi Sunrockers (now known as the B. League¡¯s Sunrockers Shibuya), until Kashiwagi left for the Aisin SeaHorses (presently the SeaHorses Mikawa) after the 2005-06 campaign.

Both represented Japan at the 2006 FIBA World Championships, which has since been rebranded as the FIBA World Cup.