Yuta Tabuse leaves Japan national team for another shot at NBA; 5-9 guard to attend Mavs’ camp

Japan’s Tabuse seeks another shot at NBA

TOKYO — Former Phoenix Suns guard Yuta Tabuse is leaving Japanese basketball for another shot at the NBA.

The 5-foot-9 player is the only Japanese to make it to the NBA. He had been training with Japan’s national team, but the Dallas Mavericks invited him to their summer camp next month.

“I got the news all of a sudden and am happy I was able to get another opportunity,” Tabuse said at a news conference Saturday.

Tabuse played briefly for Phoenix in the 2004-05 season. He joined the team in training camp that year and made the opening-night roster. He scored seven points against Atlanta in his first NBA game but was waived by the Suns on Dec. 16, 2004.