Former NBA big man Nick Fazekas, who became a Japanese citizen and a linchpin for the men's national basketball team, brought down the curtain on his professional career with the recent conclusion of the domestic B-League season.
A collegiate star for the University of Nevada, the Colorado native came to Japan in 2012 following short stints with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers.
He joined the Toshiba basketball club, the predecessor of the B-League's Kawasaki Brave Thunders, and remained with the organization until retirement.
The 207-centimeter forward/center was one of the top scorers in Japanese basketball, combining skilled playmaking and a soft shooting touch with an imposing presence in the paint.
Fazekas obtained Japanese citizenship in 2018 and quickly helped the national team turn around its foundering qualifying campaign for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
He scored 25 points to lead his new country to an upset against heavyweight Australia in the first of eight consecutive wins, as Japan advanced to the World Cup via regional qualification for the first time in 21 years.
His former teammate, current national team star Yuta Watanabe, lauded the American-born big man's contribution to Japanese basketball after playing in his retirement tribute game last Thursday.
"Congrats on an amazing career Nick. And thank you for making Japanese basketball better," the former Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets swingman posted on social media. "You'll be missed."
The 38-year-old Fazekas paid tribute to Japanese basketball fans after the farewell game at Kawasaki's Todoroki Arena, where his No. 22 Brave Thunders jersey was retired and raised to the rafters.
"Not too many people get to be a professional basketball player. It's a privilege. I'm very grateful for everything, but it's you fans...you guys are the ones that make it so special," he said.
