Chiba Jets Funabashi Shigehiro Taguchi, a two-time B. League All-Star, has been one of the league's most popular players because of his cheerful personality.
His smile might have been a little less bright last November, when he was chosen to become the third president of the Japan Basketball Players Association, due to the burden of taking on the role.
Regardless of who the JBPA chief was, though, no one could've imagined dealing with the situation caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, which would eventually force the league to cancel the remainder of its 2019-20 campaign.