Japanese player in the NBA?

[fossilfuel]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1523&ncid=1387&e=2&u=/afp/20040906/sp_afp/basket_nba_tabuse

-----------------------
TOKYO (AFP) - Yuta Tabuse has signed for the Phoenix Suns, boosting his hopes of becoming the first Japanese to play in the US National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season, the NBA's Tokyo branch said.

The 23-year-old guard, who took part in the Denver Nuggets' pre-season training camp last year, will join the Phoenix club for the start of the season on October 10.

After failing to make the Nuggets' 12-man roster, he helped Long Beach Jam win the independent American Basketball Association league last season.

Tabuse played with Brigham Young University Hawaii for three years before joining Toyota Alvark of Japan's Super League in 2002.

He quit the Japanese club last year with his sights set on the big-time American league, taking part in Phoenix's camp in July and playing in summer games.
------------------------

unsure if he's Japanese American that went to Japan and played or Japanese that played in the states during college.

Either way, hope he makes it :smile:

[BeTheReds]

He's not Japanese American.

[truMp]

I'll have to wait and see how he plays before judging; not expecting much though since there is no hype on the guy.

[fossilfuel]

Just looked at his bio, he's only 5' 9"... he's probably got pretty decent skills to have even gotten this far.

[BeTheReds]

There is over here.

[lethal]

He was signed by the Nuggets last year for training camp and didn't make that team either.

[mrazntre]

I'll have to wait and see how he plays before judging; not expecting much though since there is no hype on the guy.

Just getting into training camp is a tremendous feat.

Let's go Yuta!

[kurei kun]

it doesn't make sense that he joins a team that doesn't need a point guard when there are a lot of other teams that could use someone like him.

but hey more power to yuta. he can run like the wind.

[BeTheReds]

I'll bet he makes it as a bench player, which is still pretty awesome.

[FrankieY18]

how can he play defend on 6'4" pg? nowadays all the point guards are tall...

[lethal]

http://forums.yellowworld.org/showthread.php?t=8416

http://forums.yellowworld.org/showthread.php?t=9760

and

http://forums.yellowworld.org/showthread.php?t=9676

[lethal]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1914310

Tabuse actually made the Suns as a 3rd string point guard.

[Faithless]

1 game played (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=241103021) . Scored 7 points in 10 minutes. Not bad at all.

[tommyhtown]

I heard someone on a Houston sports radio show that he's nothing but a gimmick. Heck that dude even refered to Yao as all hype. Hopefully, this guys proves them wrong just like Yao did.

[Faithless]

I heard someone on a Houston sports radio show that he's nothing but a gimmick. Heck that dude even refered to Yao as all hype. Hopefully, this guys proves them wrong just like Yao did.
You mean a host or a guest? Or some schmuck caller? :rolleyes:

Fartin' redneck. Hope Yao's 33 points against Sac helped changed some opinions.

[mrazntre]

how can he play defend on 6'4" pg? nowadays all the point guards are tall...

ask Earl Boykins and Damon Stoudamire.

I heard someone on a Houston sports radio show that he's nothing but a gimmick. Heck that dude even refered to Yao as all hype. Hopefully, this guys proves them wrong just like Yao did.

What a racist asshole.

Did he say anything about Manu, Gasol, Rafer Alston, or Lebron ?

[tommyhtown]

ask Earl Boykins and Damon Stoudamire.



What a racist asshole.

Did he say anything about Manu, Gasol, Rafer Alston, or Lebron ?

Whadda ya think? :rolleyes: BTW, it was a caller.

One of the worst thing I ever heard on radio was a caller who gave his 2cents about how bad Yao Ming was during last season. He said he'd rather have Amare Stoudamaire instead of Yao as a center ???? When the radio show host pressed him about how Yao stats may be better and his passing skill is much better than Amare. The guy said 'Heyt Yao Ming is bad because he's Asian. He is trash.' I was driving home and I was like 'WTF.' The host was all up against the caller and said there was no place for that kinda talk on his show and all that.

During the pre-season, the same station had a coverage of the Rockets in China. One of their radio personalites was there. He was in awe of Shanghai and surprised how modern it is. One of the guys here came out of the blue with 'but do they have the same freedom that we have here in America?' I was like 'umm... what does that have to with anything?'

Both times I was in my car otherwise I would have called and chimed in my opinion.

[mrazntre]

wat a bunch of b.s.

[yoMAMA]

the nba wants to expand in the asian market, since in the us the interesta in nba is wanning.....

we asians don't need nba, they NEED US.

[superDave]

Yuta Tabuse was just placed on Injured Reserve, meaning he's not playing or part of their active roster. He has to be activated back to the roster before he can possibly play a regulation minute.

[BeTheReds]

Another Asian succumbing to IR! What a frikin sellout!