Whenever he stepped on the court during 11 distinguished seasons as a special ambassador for Japan pro basketball, Cohey Aoki increased the visibility of the sport.
Fans loved watching him play, and rightfully so. He displayed a pure joy for the game, but exhibited a fierce competitive desire that couldn't be tamed.
On Friday evening, Aoki announced his retirement, just weeks after he planned to join the Shimane Susanoo Magic, effectively ending his career without playing a game for Shimane in the new B. League. In a long statement posted on basket-count.com, Aoki admitted that he doesn't have the energy to play at a high level anymore, but said he's grateful for all the support he's received over the years, adding that he had a "lot of great experiences over the years."