Yuta Tabuse

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Yuta Tabuse (田臥 勇太 Tabuse Yūta?, born October 5, 1980 in Yokohama, Japan) is a professional basketball player. A point guard, Tabuse is 5'9" and 165 pounds (1.75 m, 75 kg). Tabuse is the first Japanese-born basketball player to play in the National Basketball Association, appearing in four games with the Phoenix Suns during the 2004-05 NBA season before he was waived.

Tabuse has enjoyed popularity in Japan since his high school playing days, when he led his school to three straight national championships, and has been referred to as "the Michael Jordan of Japan" for his celebrity status. [1][2]

Michael Cooper, former NBA player and Tabuse's coach with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, said of him, "He automatically changes the game because of his quickness and distributing the ball. He's the best fundamental player I've been around in a long time," and Suns assistant coach Marc Iavaroni said, "I liked his energy, I liked his courage."[3][4]

Contents

[edit] Career

[edit] Early years

Tabuse, who grew up in what he calls "a sports family", began playing basketball at nine years old, because he was not good at baseball and not interested in soccer.[5] He attended Noshiro Technical High School (能代工業高校 Noshiro Kōgyō Kōkō?) in Akita Prefecture, where he led his team to national championships all three years he was there and did not lose a single game.[2]

After graduation from in 1998, Tabuse chose to enroll at Brigham Young University Hawaii for its English as an International Language program.[5] He sat out his first two seasons at BYUH because of eligibility rules and played one season before turning pro. He averaged 7.6 points and led the Pacific West Conference with 6.6 assists.

He returned to join the Toyota Alvark, with whom he won the Japan Basketball League Rookie of the Year award for the 2002-2003 season. [1]

[edit] NBA

Tabuse on the cover of the Japanese release of NBA Live 06.
Tabuse on the cover of the Japanese release of NBA Live 06.

After leaving the Toyota Alvark in 2003, Tabuse became the first Japanese person to play in the NBA's summer league, playing for the Dallas Mavericks. Tabuse's first attempt at making it to the NBA made the headlines in Japan, and drew large media attention.

That year, Tabuse became the first Japanese player to sign an NBA contract, joining the Denver Nuggets' training camp, but he was waived before the start of the regular season.

He spent the 2003-2004 season with the American Basketball Association champion Long Beach Jam, averaging 5.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and a team-high 6.3 assists per game in 18 games.

In 2004, Tabuse joined the Phoenix Suns' training camp and made the opening night roster. He scored seven points in his first NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 3, 2004. However, he was waived by the Suns on December 16, 2004.[6] He rejoined the Jams for the remainder of the season.

In 2005, he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers but was waived before the start of the regular season.[7] That fall, Tabuse appeared on a limited edition cover of NBA Live video game in Japan, even though he did not play single NBA regular season game.[8]

That year, he was drafted by the Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBA Development League and averaged 6.5 points and 4.0 assists in 34 games before he was waived in March.

In the summer of 2006, Tabuse played with the Dallas Mavericks' summer league team.[9]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Hoop Dreams - Yuta Tabuse, 'The Jordan of Japan'", Consulate General of Japan in New York, December 2004/January 2005. Retrieved on 2006-07-14.
  2. ^ a b Song, Jaymes. "'Jordan of Japan' living up to nickname", Honolulu Star Bulletin, December 14, 2001. Retrieved on 2006-07-14.
  3. ^ Fowler, Jeremy. "Japan's Yuta Tabuse is a whirlwind of speed and excitement on the court for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds", The Albuquerque Tribune, December 22, 2005. Retrieved on 2006-07-14.
  4. ^ Green, Josh. "Tabuse Signing Expands Suns' International Flavor", Suns.com, September 7, 2004. Retrieved on 2006-07-14.
  5. ^ a b Toth, Catherine E.. "BYUH's Japanese point guard learning about celebrity", The Honolulu Advertiser, 2001-12-20. Retrieved on 2006-07-15.
  6. ^ "Suns Waive Guard Yuta Tabuse", NBA.com, 2004-12-18. Retrieved on 2006-07-20.
  7. ^ "Clippers Set Opening Night Roster", NBA.com, 2005-10-31. Retrieved on 2006-07-15.
  8. ^ "EA Sport Promotes Bench Warmer", Kotaku, 2005-10-05. Retrieved on 2006-07-15.
  9. ^ In November 2006, Tabuse was drafted into the D-League by the Bakersfield Jam. Walker, Richard. "2006 Summer Pro League - Day Five", DraftExpress, 2006-07-13. Retrieved on 2006-07-20.

[edit] External links

EA Sports NBA Live Cover Athletes

'95: 1994 NBA Finals action shot | '96: Shaquille O'Neal | '97: Mitch Richmond | '98: Tim Hardaway | '99: Antoine Walker | '00: Tim Duncan | '01: Kevin Garnett | '02: Steve Francis | '03: Jason Kidd | '04: Vince Carter | '05: Carmelo Anthony | '06: Dwyane Wade, Yuta Tabuse (Japanese cover) | '07: Tracy McGrady, Pau Gasol (Spanish cover), Boris Diaw & Tony Parker (French cover), Dirk Nowitzki (German cover)
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