Home > Yuta Tabuse

Tabuse became the first Japanese born player in history to be signed by an NBA team to participate during a season, when, on November 1, 2004, the Suns decided to sign him as the Suns' twelfth member for the 2004- 2005 NBA season. Suns assistant coach Marc Iavaroni described him as a "clever little player".

Tabuse is an experienced player: Having played many years in his native country, he is well known by Japanese, specially teenagers. About that, Tabuse commented to writer Jeff Simoneda that "If Japanese kids wear (his) jersey, that would be awesome".

Tabuse, who lists Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas as his favorite NBA players of all time, graduated from BYU-Hawaii in 2002. That same year, he became the first Japanese to participate in an NBA's summer league camp team, when he played for Dallas during the summer league tournament. Tabuse's first attempt at making it to the NBA made the headlines in Japan, and drew large media attention. He was, however, cut off the team before pre-season began for the 2002- 032003 is a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar), and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Summary Perhaps the defining global event of the year 2003 was the Invasion of Iraq launched by the U NBA season.

In 2003, Tabuse made his second attempt at becoming the first Japanese to make it to the NBA as a regular season player. His attempt was, once again, a large event for the Japanese media to cover. Although he became the first Japanese player to make it to an NBA pre-season roster, the Denver NuggetsThe Denver Nuggets are a National Basketball Association team based in Denver, Colorado. Founded 1967, a member of the American Basketball Association Formerly known as Denver Rockets 1967-1974 Home Arena Pepsi Center Uniform colors Columbine Blue and Gol cut him off their team before the season began.

Tabuse then went to play alongside Dennis RodmanDennis Rodman (born May 13, 1961 in Trenton, New Jersey) was a professional basketball player mostly known for his controversial antics on and off the court and as a top defender and rebounder. When he entered the NBA in 1986, he was listed as 6' 8" (2. in an ABAThe abbreviation or acronym ABA has several different meanings: ABA routing transit number American Bankers Association American Bar Association American Basketball Association American Booksellers Association Australian Broadcasting Authority TLAs. team during the summer of 2004.

His third try at becoming the first Japanese to play during the NBA's regular season drew increasing Japanese media attention. During the 2004- 05 NBA's pre-season, Tabuse averaged only one point per game with the Suns. Nevertheless, he was able to reach his goal of being the NBA's first Japanese player when he was signed after the pre-season was over.