Loe’s Japan concerns echoed

Tall Black Rob Loe left money on the table to cut his Japanese basketball deal short because of his concerns about the duty of care the league had for its athletes amid the coronavirus pandemic.

His stance has been backed up by a ‘‘chaotic’’ attempt at restarting the league last weekend and comments from a star American import who has also returned home amid anxieties similar to Loe’s.

Loe was playing in the Japan league’s second division for the Kagawa Five Arrows, coached by ex-Tall Blacks mentor Paul Henare, during his off-season from the Australian National Basketball League.

But he returned to New Zealand last week and told Stuff he had enough concerns around the way the Japanese leagues were dealing with the Covid-19 situation to essentially turn his back on vital additional income. Since Loe’s departure the league announced a suspension of play – though did make a troubled attempt at a resumption last weekend.

‘‘At the time it was one of the only leagues in the world still playing. They were behind closed doors but they weren’t talking about shutting it down,’’ Loe told Stuff. ‘‘We played two games and heard some other teams had bailed on games because some of their guys were sick. But there was nothing from the league, no mandate, nothing around if players get sick.

‘‘Japan is a very clean and well-run country, but they had obviously decided not to test as many people. That was what I was reading. It was kind of scary to know you might contract something and never learn about it. It just felt like there was a need to come back just to protect myself and my career.’’

Asked if his concerns were more around the Japanese league or the country in general, Loe said: ‘‘Probably more the league not wanting to protect the players. Mostly it was just me wanting to protect myself and my family.’’

With Japan due to host the Olympics in Tokyo beginning July 24 there have been major concerns around the country’s unwillingness to postpone the Games given the global disruption being suffered amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

The IOC yesterday finally took the lead on the matter, confirming that scenarios were being worked through that would allow for the Games to be pushed back to a later date. It’s understood any decision on a postponement has to be a joint one between the host nation and the Games body.

ESPN has reported that Jeff Ayres, the No 31 pick in the 2009 draft and a six-year NBA veteran, had decided to return to the US from Japan because of his concerns around how the league and his team, the Shiga Lakestars, were handling the coronavirus situation.