Photo by: Michael McCann

“I don’t have a nickname. I’m just Yuta”. Yuta Tabuse (pronounced Ta-BOO-say) is the first player with Japanese Nationality to play in the NBA. The Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, and the Los Angeles Clippers are all teams that were interested in Tabuse’s game. After getting on the roster of a bunch of summer league teams, Tabuse intrigued many NBA executives with his flashy playing style–think Jason Williams the Pre-Hubie Brown Version).

Unfortunately for Yuta, there are many obstacles that may get on his way from playing with the “big boys”. For one, Yuta is only 5′9 and weights 165 pounds. For a guy who is trying to play in a league where the average height and weight are 6′7 and 225, yeah. But the NBA has had some short, and small successful players. Spud Webb, Earl Boykins, Mugsy Bogues, and Jemeil Rich were all under 5′10. 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 playing in the ABA, the minor leagues of professional basketball.

Despite all these hardships, Yuta’s future seems to be open like a basket waiting to be slammed on by Vince Carter. Due to his popularity in Japan, and the erratic style of play, Yuta is making many NBA scouts and executives want him on their teams. The attempt of the NBA to attract a more global audience seems to help Yuta as well. Even though he is 27 years old, in a world where the top 10 picks are almost always under the age of 19, Yuta is still a considerable prospect.

So will Yuta Tabuse be the Hideki Matsui of the NBA? Perhaps, he will get out of the zone that so many players are struggling to get out of. From stardom in the minor leagues, to the bench warmer in the NBA, only time will tell.