July 29, 2004
Found in Translation?
At age 24, Yuta Tabuse (pronounced Ta-BOO-say) has a dream: To become the first player of Japanese nationality to play in the NBA. And as Mike Tulumello of the East Valley Tribune (Arizona) reports, Tabuse greatly impressed the Phoenix Suns' coaching staff while he was a member of the Suns' 2004 summer league entry -- so much so that he might be invited to the Suns' training camp this fall, with a chance to earn a spot on the regular season roster. This isn't Tabuse's first attempt at the NBA, as he played for the Denver Nuggets' summer league team last year.
Interestingly, Tabuse's NBA attempt has reached the most advanced stage of any Japanese player since that of Yasutaka "Chibi" Okayama, who was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 8th round of the 1981 NBA Draft. Okayama, who stood 7'8 (yes, 7'8) and played at the University of Osaka, never showed up, so Tabuse is already ahead of the game, so to speak.
Unfortunately for Tabuse, however, he will encounter some obstacles should he get to play with the "big boys" this fall. For one, he's only 5'9 and weighs 165 pounds, and he's trying to play in a league where the average player is 6'7 and weighs 225 pounds. Now, lack of size has never been an automatic disqualifier for entrance into the NBA (5'5 Earl Boykins, 5'7 Spud Webb, and 5'2 Muggsy Bogues all say hello), but it's certainly a hindrance (5'9 Scoonie Penn, 5'9 Jemeil Rich, and 5'8 Terrell McIntyre all say goodbye). Tabuse also possesses a rather modest background for an NBA prospect, having only played in Division II college basketball (at BYU-Hawill), as well as in the minor-league American Basketball Association and the Japanese Basketball League (where he was the league's rookie of the year in 2002).
Nevertheless, the prospect of a Japanese player in the NBA likely intrigues NBA executives, particularly as the league attempts to attract a more global audience. And Tabuse is widely regarded as the most popular basketball player in Japan, especially given his flashy, if erratic style on the court (a lot of assists and a lot of turnovers -- think Jason Williams, the pre-Hubie Brown version). Indeed, the Japanese media has closely followed Tabuse around the U.S, even though at age 24, he's best regarded as a fringe NBA prospect.
So is the NBA hoping for its own version of Ichiro, the Japanese native and All-Star outfielder for the Seattle Mariners? Not likely, for if Tabuse were to earn a spot on the Suns' roster, it would be as the team's 3rd-string point guard. Doubtless, he would still attract attention, but the NBA's Ichiro he is not.
Rather, the only real question for Tabuse and the NBA is whether the Suns' coaching staff will be telling him "konnichiha" or "adexyuu" this fall.
And that's the very same question that so many players stuck between minor-league stardom and bench-warmer NBA status will be looking to have answered as well.
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