Ms. MQ, known as the official super fan of the Washington Wizards who played against the Golden State Warriors in the "NBA JAPAN GAMES 2022".After continuously posting fan art full of NBA love on social media, they earned the endorsement of the team and even got to meet their idolized player. It's like a Cinderella story!She spoke about the great joy that her favorite activities brought her.

I became hooked on the NBA in 2015, when I was a university student.After being captivated by a player named John Wall in the NBA highlight video shown to me by my university senior, I started to follow the games and player movements of the Washington Wizards, the team he belongs to.

While watching the game and checking various SNS of players and teams, I discovered a new favorite player, Bradley Beal, who forms a duo with Wall.In 2018, I created a social media account dedicated to the NBA, and began to post illustrations of the moments that moved me while watching the games.Until then, I had only been focused on my own basketball during my junior and senior high school years, and on painting in college. I had never been interested in anything else or spent time on it. However, when I entered college and my world expanded, I started to feel, “I want something else to devote myself to,” and what perfectly fitted into that was the NBA.

I decided to seriously support the Wizards!By the time it was decided, despite being touted as a team with potential to aim for the top in the East, the results weren’t as expected due to either Wall or Beal being injured. It was a team that required quite a bit of patience to continue supporting.However, I believed that the two would definitely become stronger when together, and as I wanted to witness the moment they stepped onto the public stage, I developed an attachment to the entire team and found myself unable to leave them (laughs).It might feel similar to supporting indie bands or newly debuted idols.

So, when Wall was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2020, I was truly shocked and cried a lot.I was really looking forward to seeing Wall, who had been off for the entire season due to an injury, finally pair up with Beal, and was even more excited about the addition of Rui Hachimura to the mix.Even now, I can’t help but wish “if only the world lines were different…” It was such a disappointment. However, even after Wall transferred, I realized that I still wanted to continue supporting the Wizards. It became a good opportunity for me to understand myself better.Now, whether the Wizards’ players win or lose, just seeing them energetically playing basketball brings happiness. Of course, seeing the players delighted by a win is the best.

Let me introduce you to my beloved beer as well.Beer was initially expected to be the face of the team since he joined, but was often injured. However, he continued to grow steadily, and when Wall was out for the entire season due to an injury, he demonstrated leadership more than anyone else.Recently, the play style has been changing little by little to match the team and newly joined players, but still, he continues to show an attitude that he is the one leading the team. He’s a player who really makes you want to cheer for him.He also looked at my illustrations and said, “This is truly art” and “She is very good at drawing me,” which made me like him even more.

One of the most memorable moments of my fan activities is, of course, the “NBA Japan Game” held at the Saitama Super Arena last year.Hachimura team, the Wizards, and the Golden State Warriors, one of the NBA’s most popular teams, held an incredible big event, an exhibition match in Japan. I provided illustrations for merchandise and digital content, and was also allowed to display illustrations inside the hotel where the Wizards’ players were staying.From the time I was preparing for the event to the end of the actual event, I was, how should I put it, in a kind of euphoric state, as if I was constantly experiencing the best moments of my life.Thanks to the arrangements made by the Wizards’ staff, when the players returned to the hotel from practice, especially when they could have beer, they cried a lot. They also teared up from the memories when they arrived at the game venue (laughs).I have memories of feeling overwhelmed by everything during the three days the event took place.

With Hachimura transfer to the Los Angeles Lakers, public interest in the Wizards has significantly decreased, but I particularly don’t mind.I love the players who have joined the Wizards, and I’ve decided to support them throughout the season no matter what. Through my activities as MQ, I’ve been able to meet many Wizards fans, and I find it very enjoyable to support the Wizards together.As I mentioned earlier, just seeing everyone’s growth and excellent play is enough, so I’m really looking forward to the Wizards’ next season.

After playing basketball for three years at Yakumo Academy, I took a year off and then proceeded to enroll at Tokyo University of the Arts.While my background of aiming for the Interhigh from high school and then going to an art university with a competitive rate of about 20 times often gets me comments like “that’s amazing” from those around me, I’ve always harbored a complex. There are many people who are better than me at both basketball and art, and I can’t compete with the top-level professionals in those fields.During such a time, I encountered the NBA, and by supporting players who continued their extraordinary efforts to seize their dreams in a glamorous world, I realized that I too could gain such courage. Even if basketball alone, or art alone, was not enough, by combining the two, I gained confidence that I could do something that only I could do.

And now, by connecting and promoting the basketball (sports) and art that I have been dedicating myself to so far, my desire is to further bridge the gap between these two fields.The NBA is fundamentally a world with a high affinity for culture such as art, fashion, and music.In Japan, I believe that embodying it in my own way is something like the purpose of my existence.

Since the NBA is a league across the sea, some people may feel that it’s a high hurdle.At first, I too was wondering, “What is a conference?””First of all, how many teams are there?”It was at a level like that (laughs).However, now if you sign a contract, you can watch in real time from anywhere via an app, and you can easily watch highlight videos on social media and so on.Many NBA players often share glimpses of their off-court lives on their personal social media accounts, such as their casual outfits, family time, and workout scenes, which are usually not broadcasted by their teams. Therefore, you might surprisingly feel closer to them.First, take a look at the entire NBA season (including games and drafts), and if you find a team or player that catches your attention, try following them on social media. As you do, the picture becomes clearer and I’m confident you’ll definitely become hooked on the NBA!

The artist MQ spent time to draw John Wall for the first time as “MQ”.It is said that they drew and erased repeatedly until the paper was worn thin.

This is from the series when my “MQ drawings” were recognized on my SNS account. Bradley Beal commented, “This is what art is.”

Held the first solo exhibitions in Tokyo and Tokushima, in collaboration with the Wizards.Approximately 500 NBA fans attended.

Artwork from when I created the announcement image for the Wizards in conjunction with the 2022 NBA Japan Games.

Meeting with the player at the Japan Game.During the period, while carrying the painting that Beer had handed over, he moved around and reportedly said, “I’ve been carrying it around all the time.”

The “DUB” pose that is done when you win a match.

SNS graphics used in the Japan Game.

During the local game I attended in December 2022, I had the chance to meet my idol, Wall, thanks to the team’s arrangements.Get a signature on the picture you’ve drawn.

A single panel drawn from the manga project “Our NBA”.