Yuta Tabuse

{{short description|Japanese basketball player (born 1980)}} {{Family name hatnote|Tabuse|lang=Japanese}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Yuta Tabuse <br> {{nihongo2|田臥勇太}} | image = Tabuse yuuta 20150104 (cropped).jpg | caption = Tabuse in 2015 | number = 0 | league = B.League | team = Utsunomiya Brex | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 9 | weight_lb = 165 | position = Point guard | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1980|10|5}} | birth_place = Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan | highschool = Noshiro Technical<br/>(Noshiro, Akita) | college = BYU–Hawaii (2001–2002) | draft_year = 2002 | career_start = 2002 | years1 = 2002–2003 | team1 = Toyota Alvark | years2 = 2003–2004 | team2 = Long Beach Jam | years3 = {{nbay|2004|start}} | team3 = Phoenix Suns | years4 = 2005–2006 | team4 = Albuquerque Thunderbirds | years5 = 2006–2007 | team5 = Bakersfield Jam | years6 = 2007–2008 | team6 = Anaheim Arsenal | years7 = 2008–present | team7 = Link Tochigi / Utsunomiya Brex | highlights = *EASL champion (2026) *3× B.League Champion (2017, 2022, 2025) *JBL Finals MVP (2010) *JBL Champion (2010) *ABA Champion (2004) | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{JPN}} }} {{MedalCompetition|FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship}} {{MedalBronze | 1998 Kolkata|Team}} {{MedalCompetition|William Jones Cup}} {{MedalBronze | 2010 Taipei|Team}} }} {{Nihongo|'''Yuta Tabuse'''|田臥勇太|Tabuse Yūta|extra=born October 5, 1980}} is a Japanese professional basketball player for Utsunomiya Brex of the B.League. A point guard, Tabuse is {{convert|1.75|m|ftin}} and {{convert|75|kg|sigfig=3}}.<ref>According to the ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin'', Tabuse is listed at {{nowrap|5 ft 9 in}} but stands {{convert|5|ft|7|in|abbr=on}}. (link: [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1117512271.html BYUH alum Tabuse signs with Nuggets]{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}})</ref> He was the first Japanese-born player to appear in a National Basketball Association (NBA) game.<ref name=yomiuri>{{cite news|date=May 4, 2006|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2006/05/04/basketball/tabuse-still-has-eyes-on-nba-dream/|title=Tabuse still has eyes on NBA dream|newspaper=The Japan Times|access-date=June 1, 2014|author=Kaz Nagatsuka|archive-date=June 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601152513/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2006/05/04/basketball/tabuse-still-has-eyes-on-nba-dream/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref name=consulteny>{{cite news|date=May 17, 2002|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/05/17/sports/story4.html|title=A year of firsts ... and lasts|newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|access-date=June 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809100425/http://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/05/17/sports/story4.html|archive-date=August 9, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=starbulletin>{{cite news|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2001/12/14/sports/story4.html|title='Jordan of Japan' living up to nickname|first=Jaymes|last=Song|newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|date=December 14, 2001|access-date=July 14, 2006|archive-date=August 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810224614/http://archives.starbulletin.com/2001/12/14/sports/story4.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Career==

===Early years=== Tabuse, who was born in Yokohama 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.<ref name=advertiser>{{cite news|title=BYUH's Japanese point guard learning about celebrity|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/Dec/20/sp/sp03a.html|first=Catherine E.|last=Toth|newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser|date=December 20, 2001|access-date=July 15, 2006|archive-date=September 6, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050906071541/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/Dec/20/sp/sp03a.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He attended Noshiro Technical High School in Akita Prefecture, where he led his team to national championships all three years he was there and lost only a single game.<ref name=starbulletin/><ref>{{cite web |last=バスケの能代から全てのバスケファンへ |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jF322YR_8E |title='96 東北大会決勝田臥1年仙台に敗れる|date=8 August 2015 |access-date=12 November 2016}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

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.<ref name="advertiser"/> 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 per game 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.<ref name=consulteny/>

===NBA, ABA and NBA D-League=== 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 Mavericks, averaging 4.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 13 minutes per game.<ref name=taipeitimes>{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2003/09/28/2003069648|page=23|title=Sports Briefs|newspaper=The Taipei Times|date=September 28, 2003|archive-date=December 5, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041205001358/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2003/09/28/2003069648|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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,<ref name=taipeitimes/><ref name=dentransactions03>[https://www.espn.com/nba/team/transactions/_/name/den/denver-nuggets Denver Nuggets Transactions 2002-03]</ref> but he was waived on October 24,<ref name=dentransactions03/> 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, becoming on that day the first Japanese player ever to play in an NBA regular season game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/sports/2013/09/the-complete-history-of-asian-players-in-the-nba/yuta-tabuse|title = The Complete History of Asian Players in the NBA}}</ref> However, he was waived by the Suns on December 16, 2004, after playing in four games and rejoined the Jam for the remainder of the ABA season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/suns/news/tabuse_041218.html|title=Suns Waive Guard Yuta Tabuse|publisher=NBA.com|date=December 18, 2004|access-date=July 20, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630150818/http://www.nba.com/suns/news/tabuse_041218.html|archive-date=June 30, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Suns assistant coach Marc Iavaroni said of Tabuse: "I liked his energy, I liked his courage."<ref name="suns_sept2004">{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/suns/news/tabuse_international_040907.html|title=Tabuse Signing Expands Suns' International Flavor|first=Josh|last=Green|publisher=NBA.com|work=Suns.com|date=September 7, 2004|access-date=July 14, 2006|archive-date=November 23, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123165628/http://www.nba.com/suns/news/tabuse_international_040907.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Those four games with Phoenix ended up being Tabuse's only playing time in the NBA throughout his professional basketball career. His fourth and final game in the NBA was played on December 15, 2004, in a 108–86 win over the Utah Jazz. Tabuse only played for two minutes and recorded no stats.

In 2005, Tabuse signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, but was waived before the start of the regular season.<ref name="chooses summer league">{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2429905|agency=Reuters|title=Tabuse chooses summer league over playing for Japan|publisher=ESPN|date=May 2, 2006|archive-date=October 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026003201/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2429905|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nba.com_clipperswaived">{{cite news|date=October 31, 2005|access-date=July 15, 2006|url=http://www.nba.com/clippers/news/opening_night_roster_051031.html|title=Clippers Set Opening Night Roster|publisher=NBA.com|archive-date=November 2, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051102123046/http://www.nba.com/clippers/news/opening_night_roster_051031.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name="kotaku">{{cite news|publisher=Kotaku|url=http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/ea-sports/ea-sport-promotes-bench-warmer-129134.php|title=EA Sport Promotes Bench Warmer|date=October 5, 2005|access-date=July 15, 2006|archive-date=January 13, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070113025417/http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/ea-sports/ea-sport-promotes-bench-warmer-129134.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> That year, he was drafted by the Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBA Development League (D-League) and averaged 6.5 points and 4.0 assists in 34 games before he was waived on March 16, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=NBA.com|url=http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/transactions_05-06.html|title=2005-06 Transactions|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070112095435/http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/transactions_05-06.html|archive-date=January 12, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 seen around in a long time."<ref name="albuquerque">{{cite news|url=http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/sp_thunderbirds/article/0,2668,ALBQ_24837_4335036,00.html|title=Japan's Yuta Tabuse is a whirlwind of speed and excitement on the court for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds|first=Jeremy|last=Fowler|newspaper=The Albuquerque Tribune|date=December 22, 2005|access-date=July 14, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060317105139/http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/sp_thunderbirds/article/0,2668,ALBQ_24837_4335036,00.html|archive-date=March 17, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Image:Tabuse yuuta.jpg|thumb|Yuta Tabuse at Link Tochigi Brex]] 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.<ref name="chooses summer league"/> 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.<ref>{{cite news|date=July 13, 2006|url=http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1409|title=2006 Summer Pro League - Day Five|first=Richard|last=Walker|publisher=DraftExpress|access-date=July 20, 2006|archive-date=July 18, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718040431/http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1409|url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2007, Tabuse was cut by the Bakersfield Jam before the 2007–08 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bakersfield.com/136/story/288397.html |title=Jam cuts ties with fan favorite Tabuse |publisher=The Bakersfield Californian |date=November 17, 2007 |access-date=November 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224211406/http://www.bakersfield.com/136/story/288397.html |archive-date=February 24, 2009 }}</ref>

On December 8, 2007, Tabuse was acquired by the Anaheim Arsenal of the D-League,<ref name=tabuse_071207>{{cite web|url=http://phoenixsuns.info/dleague/anaheim/tabuse_071207.html|title=Yuta Tabuse, Will Blalock Acquired By Anaheim Arsenal|date=December 8, 2007|archive-date=June 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601160507/http://phoenixsuns.info/dleague/anaheim/tabuse_071207.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and he made his debut on December 9 against the Bakersfield Jam, scoring four points and adding three assists in almost 13 minutes of play.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20071209/BAKANA/boxscore.html Arsenal 119, Jam 109 - Box score]</ref> For the 2007–08 season, Tabuse averaged 4.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 39 games.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/career.jsp?player=yuta_tabuse NBA Development League: Yuta Tabuse Career Stats and Totals] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302042434/http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/career.jsp?player=yuta_tabuse |date=March 2, 2009 }}</ref>

In July 2008, Tabuse joined the New Jersey Nets' squad in the Orlando Pro Summer League.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3677078|title=Arsenal players make summer league rosters|publisher=The Bakersfield Californian|date=July 7, 2008|access-date=July 10, 2008|archive-date=February 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228224220/http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3677078|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?page=2008orlandosummerleaguerosters|title=2008 Orlando Summer League Rosters|publisher=ESPN|date=July 8, 2008|access-date=January 19, 2009|archive-date=September 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906152309/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=2008orlandosummerleaguerosters|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Return to Japan=== In August 2008, Tabuse signed for Japan Basketball 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.<ref name="Japantimes">{{cite news|title=NBA trailblazer Tabuse signs for JBL's Brex|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2008/09/01/basketball/nba-trailblazer-tabuse-signs-for-jbls-brex/|first=Kaz|last=Nagatsuka|work=The Japan Times|date=September 1, 2008|access-date=February 10, 2009|archive-date=June 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601184917/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2008/09/01/basketball/nba-trailblazer-tabuse-signs-for-jbls-brex/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In April 2009, Tabuse was named to the 22-man roster for the Japan national basketball team. The team played at the FIBA Asia Championship for Men.<ref>{{cite web|work=The Japan Times|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2009/04/08/basketball/tabuse-orimo-named-to-national-team-roster/|title=Tabuse, Orimo named to national team roster|date=April 8, 2009|access-date=June 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601185350/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2009/04/08/basketball/tabuse-orimo-named-to-national-team-roster/|archive-date=June 1, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=4217198|title=Japan's Tabuse leaves national team|last=Associated Press|date=May 30, 2009|publisher=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|access-date=May 30, 2009|archive-date=May 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140507045340/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4217198|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2010, his team won the JBL Basketball League championship game. Tabuse was named Finals MVP. Tabuse's team would later win their second Japanese League championship in 2017 under the rebranded Japanese Professional Basketball League. Tabuse continues to play basketball professionally into his forties.<ref>{{Citation |title=田臥勇太、42歳。日本人初のNBAプレーヤーが、今でもプレーを続ける理由 {{!}} GQ Stories {{!}} GQ JAPAN |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E5vGmhbP-M |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=YouTube |language=ja}}</ref>

== Career statistics == {{NBA player statistics legend}}

=== Regular season === {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | align="left" | 2004–05 | align="left" | Phoenix | 4 || 0 || 4.3 || .167 || 1.000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || 0.8 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.8 |- |}

=== D-League === {{WNBA player statistics start}} |- | align="left" | 2005–2006 | align="left" | ABQ | 34 || 4 || 23.2 || .406 || .313 || .780 || 2.1 || 4.0 || 1.2 || 0.0 || 1.21 || 6.5 |- | align="left" | 2006–2007 | align="left" | BAK | 44 || 3 || 18.7 || .412 || .263 || .773 || 1.4 || 3.5 || 0.9 || 0.0 || 1.20 || 6.1 |- | align="left" | 2007–2008 | align="left" | ANA | 39 || 0 || 13.0 || .374 || .341 || .810 || 1.2 || 2.0 || 0.9 || 0.0 || 1.07 || 5.7 |}

=== JBL === {{WNBA player statistics start}} |- | align="left" | 2008–2009 | align="left" | Tochigi | 33 || 33 || 34.2 || .475 || .226 || .742 || 3.5 || 5.6 || 2.3 || 0.1 || 2.24 || 11.0 |- | align="left" | 2009–2010 | align="left" | Tochigi | 26 || -- || 26.6 || .551 || .360 || .803 || 3.1 || 3.5 || 2.0 || 0.0 || 1.46 || 11.8 |- | align="left" | 2010–2011 | align="left" | Tochigi | 31 || -- || 28.8 || .455 || .375 || .792 || 2.6 || 3.4 || 1.3 || 0.1 || 0.97 || 8.7 |- | align="left" | 2011–2012 | align="left" | Tochigi | 39|| || 20.9|| .488|| .156|| .741|| 2.3|| 2.6|| 1.2|| 0.1|| 1.5|| 6.4 |- | align="left" | 2012–2013 | align="left" | Tochigi | 22|| || 26.8|| .476|| .188|| .879|| 2.4|| 2.7|| 0.8|| 0.0|| 1.5|| 10.4 |}

=== NBL === {{WNBA player statistics start}} |- | align="left" | 2013–2014 | align="left" | Tochigi | 54 || || 32.8 || .441 || .330 || .858 || 4.2 || 5.9 || 2.0 || 0.1 || 2.1 || 15.6 |- | align="left" | 2014–15 | align="left" | Tochigi | 51|| || 26.9|| .471|| .250|| .814|| 2.2|| 4.5|| 1.7|| 0.1|| 1.7|| 10.3 |- | align="left" | 2015–16 | align="left" | Tochigi | 50|| || 23.7|| .484|| .310|| .826|| 2.0|| 3.3|| 1.2|| 0.0|| 1.0|| 7.0 |}

=== B.League === ====Regular season==== {{WNBA player statistics start}} |- | align="left" | B1 2016–17 | align="left" | Tochigi |59||59||20.8||49.7||27.8||83.9||1.8||3.4||1.0||0.1||0.9||7.4 |- | align="left" | B1 2017–18 | align="left" | Tochigi |60||60||17.9||47.7||13.6||86.2||1.7||2.7||0.8||0.0||0.8||5.4 |- |}

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Yuta Tabuse}} *{{Basketballstats |nba= 2657 |bbr= t/tabusyu01 }} *[http://www.tabuseyuta.com/ Official site] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20061214152454/http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/yuta_tabuse/ NBA.com D-League profile] *[http://www.nba.com/suns/news/tabuse_presser_040907.html NBA.com Yuta Tabuse Press Conference Transcript]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tabuse, Yuta}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Albuquerque Thunderbirds players Category:Alvark Tokyo players Category:Anaheim Arsenal players Category:Asian Games basketball players for Japan Category:Bakersfield Jam players Category:Basketball players at the 2010 Asian Games Category:Basketball players from Kanagawa Prefecture Category:BYU–Hawaii Seasiders men's basketball players Category:Japanese expatriate basketball people in the United States Category:Japanese men's basketball players Category:Long Beach Jam players Category:NBA players from Japan Category:People from Kanazawa, Yokohama Category:Phoenix Suns players Category:Point guards Category:Sportspeople from Yokohama Category:Undrafted NBA players Category:Utsunomiya Brex players