Japan's Tabuse Yuta seeks another shot at NBA

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4217198

TOKYO -- Former Phoenix Suns guard Yuta Tabuse is leaving the Japan national men's basketball team for another shot at the NBA.

Tabuse had been training with Japan's national team but decided to leave the squad and head to the United States after receiving an invitation to attend the Dallas Mavericks' summer camp next month.

"I got the news all of a sudden and am happy I was able to get another opportunity," Tabuse said at a news conference Saturday.

Tabuse, 28, played briefly for the Suns in the 2004-05 season and is the only Japanese player to make it to the NBA.

The 5-foot-9 point guard joined the Suns' training camp in 2004 and made the opening-night roster. He scored seven points in his first NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks but was waived by the Suns on Dec. 16, 2004.

His speed and quickness is second to none, even in the NBA. Hopefully the Mavs or any other team would sign him this time round...

if he's good, he'll make it.

if he's good, he'll make it.

Well, the fact that he's 5'9" (listed, but closer to 5'7") is making teams doubting him....

shit, didn't they watch slam dunk? it's about fighting spirit. and what about that knicks guy krypto nate? there's a dunking midget right there.

shit, didn't they watch slam dunk? it's about fighting spirit. and what about that knicks guy krypto nate? there's a dunking midget right there.

haha, guess not
meh, he ain't a dunker, he's a pass first point guard. Still, i wish he has worked on his strength, as his height and lack of strength is a real knock on his defensive abilities in the NBA in the past...

nba does focus on being big and strong these days. looks better on a poster if you have muscles I suppose.

He's awful, especially in NBA Live when he'd just get blocked all the time.

especially in NBA Live

real life is not NBA Live...lol

He's awful, especially in NBA Live when he'd just get blocked all the time.

He's awful, especially in NBA Live when he'd just get blocked all the time.

he's a pass first point guard.

You're playing him wrong, asdf.

If Earl Boykins can make it in the NBA at 5-5, this guy should be able at 5-9

But Earl has the strength to play in the NBA even with his height. He can bench 300 lbs.

His speed and quickness is second to none, even in the NBA.

Aaron Brooks?

especially in NBA Live

real life is not NBA Live...lol

Oh noes he got me.

Honestly though, he's not that good. I don't know why everyone is getting so excited. Tons of players get invited to training camp, and most of the time if they do make it they're pretty much third/fourth stringers on the roster.

His speed and quickness is second to none, even in the NBA.

Aaron Brooks?

well, i don't think Aaron Brooks is faster then the Barbosa a few years ago, and Barbosa himself said that Tabuse is as fast as him...(they were teammates during Yuta's time with the Suns...)

Honestly though, he's not that good. I don't know why everyone is getting so excited. Tons of players get invited to training camp, and most of the time if they do make it they're pretty much third/fourth stringers on the roster.

Well, maybe it's cause...

1st. he's the first and only japanese player ever played in the NBA
2nd. he's unlike all the other asian ballers in the NBA, while all the other players, like Yao, Yi, or even Sun are like giants, Yuta is just 5'9 (more like 5'7") and he plays the Point guard position as opposed to the big man positions that are played by the other asian guys (even Sun Yue is a swingman, not a true point)
3rd. his determination and will to achieve his dream is inspiring to many (he could have settled on playing in japan, being highly paid, being a big star..etc etc, but he gave up all that just for the hopes of reaching his dream of playing in the NBA)

Well, Dwayne Wade is faster than Barbosa.. At least, he was when they entered the NBA. I assume Brooks could be as well, at least with the ball in his hands.
I don't know if this guy will complete his comeback, but who knows..

Speed aside, he doesn't seem to stand out as anything special by NBA standards but far be it from me to deny someone the right to pursue their dream so hey, good luck to him. With Jason Kidd's future with the Mavericks still undecided, Terry being more of a combo guard off the bench and Barea the only other point guard on the roster, the opportunity could be there for some decent minutes.

I will shit myself in anger if they give Tabuse a spot out of training camp with what he's shown. It'd be like getting a second JJ Barea, only a lot worse.

If the Mavs are that desperate for a PG (which they are), they go draft a point guard at #22 (Lawson, Maynor, Teague could all drop down, Darren Collison is fine for that spot).

Pat Mills is faster than Tabuse. I remember reading that all of his teammates at Phoenix liked him though, but at his age and height I can't really see him contributing anything of value to an NBA team of any description.

If he plays as good as Nate Robinson that he can fit in well in any team in the nba

The difference between Tabuse and Nate is like the difference between me and Tabuse.

Well said..

But Earl has the strength to play in the NBA even with his height. He can bench 300 lbs.

Maybe with special bench press shirt. If there is no video proof then it's bs.

Think of JJ Barea , his size and strength is not for the NBA and so is
this Japanese dude .
If JJ Barea can do it , why not this dude ?

The fact that they both aren't athletic doesn't mean they are equally talented.