Yuta Tabuse
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese professional basketball
player. A point guard
, Tabuse is 1.75 metre and 75 kilograms (165.3 lb). He 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. He is currently with Link Tochigi Brex of the Japan Basketball League
.
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.
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."
and grew up in what he calls "a sports family", began playing basketball at the age of nine, because he was not good at baseball
and not interested in soccer
. He attended in Akita Prefecture
, where he led his team to national championships all three years he was there and did not lose a single game.
After graduation from high school in March 1999, Tabuse chose to enroll at Brigham Young University Hawaii
for its English as an International Language program. 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.
Tabuse returned to join the Toyota Alvark
, with whom he won the Japan Basketball League Rookie of the Year award for the 2002–03 season.
, averaging 4.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 13 minutes per game. Tabuse's first attempt at making it to the NBA made the headlines in Japan, and drew large media attention. On September 27 of that year, Tabuse joined the Denver Nuggets
' training camp, but he was waived on October 24, before the start of the regular season.
Tabuse spent the 2003–04 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 and rejoined the Jam for the remainder of the season.
In 2005, Tabuse signed with the Los Angeles Clippers
, but was waived before the start of the regular season. That fall, Tabuse appeared on a limited edition cover of NBA Live video game in Japan, even though he did not play a single NBA regular season game. 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 on March 16, 2006.
In 2006, Tabuse decided to forsake an opportunity to play with the Japanese national team in the world championships that took place between August 19 to September 3 across five cities in Japan, and instead play with the Dallas Mavericks' summer league team. In November 2006, Tabuse was drafted into the NBA D-League with the 11th pick of the third round (35th overall) by the Bakersfield Jam
.
In November 2007, Tabuse was cut by the Bakersfield Jam before the 2007–08 season.
On December 8, 2007, Tabuse was acquired by the Anaheim Arsenal
of the D-League, and he made his debut on December 9 against the Bakersfield Jam, scoring 4 points and adding 3 assists in almost 13 minutes of play. For the 2007–08 season, Tabuse averaged 4.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 39 games.
In July 2008, Tabuse joined the New Jersey Nets
' squad in the Orlando Pro Summer League.
side Link Tochigi Brex
. Tochigi's head coach Mitsuhiko Kato was in charge of the basketball club of Noshiro Technical High School when Tabuse played for the school.
In April 2009, Tabuse was named to the 22-man roster for the Japan national basketball team
. The team will play at the FIBA Asia Championship for Men. In May 2009, ESPN
reported that Tabuse would leave the national team after receiving an invitation by the Dallas Mavericks
to compete in their summer camp.
In 2010, his team won the JBL Basketball League championship game.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
, Tabuse is 1.75 metre and 75 kilograms (165.3 lb). He is the first Japanese-born basketball player to play in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, appearing in four games with the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
during the 2004–05 NBA season before he was waived. He is currently with Link Tochigi Brex of the Japan Basketball League
Japan Basketball League
The Japan Basketball League is a professional basketball league in Japan. It lies below the bj league, which is Japan's top basketball competition, but there is no promotion and relegation between bj and the JBL....
.
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
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
of Japan" for his celebrity status.
Michael Cooper, former NBA player and Tabuse's coach with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Albuquerque Thunderbirds
The New Mexico Thunderbirds were a professional NBA Development League minor league basketball team which played from 2005-2011. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Thunderbirds first played their home games at Tingley Coliseum as the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, then played at the Santa Ana Star...
, 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
Marc Iavaroni
Marcus John Iavaroni is a retired American professional basketball player, current assistant coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, and former head coach of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies....
said, "I liked his energy, I liked his courage."
Early years
Tabuse, who was born in YokohamaYokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
and grew up in what he calls "a sports family", began playing basketball at the age of nine, because he was not good at baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and not interested in soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He attended in Akita Prefecture
Akita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region of northern Honshu, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Akita.- History :The area of Akita has been created from the ancient provinces of Dewa and Mutsu....
, where he led his team to national championships all three years he was there and did not lose a single game.
After graduation from high school in March 1999, Tabuse chose to enroll at Brigham Young University Hawaii
Brigham Young University Hawaii
Brigham Young University–Hawaii is a private university located in Laie, Hawaii. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
for its English as an International Language program. 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
Pacific West Conference
The Pacific West Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with NCAA Division II...
with 6.6 assists.
Tabuse returned to join the Toyota Alvark
Toyota Alvark
Toyota Alvark is a Japanese professional basketball team sponsored by Toyota. Until 2000, the team was known as the Toyota Pacers. The team currently plays in the JBL Super League and has won the last two league titles in 2006 and 2007.-Roster 2009-10:...
, with whom he won the Japan Basketball League Rookie of the Year award for the 2002–03 season.
NBA
After leaving the Toyota Alvark in 2003, Tabuse became the first Japanese national to play in the NBA's summer league, playing six games in the Rocky Mountain Revue for the Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
, averaging 4.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 13 minutes per game. Tabuse's first attempt at making it to the NBA made the headlines in Japan, and drew large media attention. On September 27 of that year, Tabuse joined the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
' training camp, but he was waived on October 24, before the start of the regular season.
Tabuse spent the 2003–04 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
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
' training camp and made the opening night roster. He scored seven points in his first NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
on November 3, 2004. However, he was waived by the Suns on December 16, 2004 and rejoined the Jam for the remainder of the season.
In 2005, Tabuse signed with the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, but was waived before the start of the regular season. That fall, Tabuse appeared on a limited edition cover of NBA Live video game in Japan, even though he did not play a single NBA regular season game. That year, he was drafted by the Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Albuquerque Thunderbirds
The New Mexico Thunderbirds were a professional NBA Development League minor league basketball team which played from 2005-2011. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Thunderbirds first played their home games at Tingley Coliseum as the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, then played at the Santa Ana Star...
of the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
and averaged 6.5 points and 4.0 assists in 34 games before he was waived on March 16, 2006.
In 2006, Tabuse decided to forsake an opportunity to play with the Japanese national team in the world championships that took place between August 19 to September 3 across five cities in Japan, and instead play with the Dallas Mavericks' summer league team. In November 2006, Tabuse was drafted into the NBA D-League with the 11th pick of the third round (35th overall) by the Bakersfield Jam
Bakersfield Jam
The Bakersfield Jam is an expansion franchise of the National Basketball Association Development League that began play in 2006-07. It plays its home games at the newly-built Jam Events Center in Bakersfield, California, United States, which had been built as their practice facility...
.
In November 2007, Tabuse was cut by the Bakersfield Jam before the 2007–08 season.
On December 8, 2007, Tabuse was acquired by the Anaheim Arsenal
Anaheim Arsenal
The Anaheim Arsenal was a professional basketball team which played in NBA Development League from 2006-2009. They played their home games at the Anaheim Convention Center, in Anaheim, California....
of the D-League, and he made his debut on December 9 against the Bakersfield Jam, scoring 4 points and adding 3 assists in almost 13 minutes of play. For the 2007–08 season, Tabuse averaged 4.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 39 games.
In July 2008, Tabuse joined the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
' squad in the Orlando Pro Summer League.
Return to Japan
In August 2008, Tabuse signed for Japan Basketball LeagueJapan Basketball League
The Japan Basketball League is a professional basketball league in Japan. It lies below the bj league, which is Japan's top basketball competition, but there is no promotion and relegation between bj and the JBL....
side Link Tochigi Brex
Link Tochigi Brex
Link Tochigi Brex is a Japanese professional basketball team based in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. After winning the JBL 2 in 2008, the team currently plays in the JBL Super League.-Roster 2009-10:*C Scott Merritt 208cm 1982...
. Tochigi's head coach Mitsuhiko Kato was in charge of the basketball club of Noshiro Technical High School when Tabuse played for the school.
In April 2009, Tabuse was named to the 22-man roster for the Japan national basketball team
Japan national basketball team
The Japanese national basketball team represents Japan in international basketball competitions. It is governed by the Japan Basketball Association . Japan is the second leading nation in qualifications to the Asian Basketball Championships...
. The team will play at the FIBA Asia Championship for Men. In May 2009, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
reported that Tabuse would leave the national team after receiving an invitation by the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
to compete in their summer camp.
In 2010, his team won the JBL Basketball League championship game.