Only Japanese player to make it to NBA wants return

The former Phoenix Suns guard Yuta Tabuse is leaving Japan's national men's basketball team for another shot at the NBA.

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TOKYO // Yuta Tabuse is leaving Japan's national men's basketball team for another shot at the NBA. Tabuse had been training with Japan's national team but has decided to leave the squad and head to the United States to look for a team, the Nikkansports newspaper reported today. Tabuse, 28, played briefly for the Phoenix Suns in the 2004-05 season and is the only Japanese player to make it to the NBA. The 1.73m point guard joined the Suns' training camp in 2004 and made the opening night roster. He scored seven points in his first NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks but was waived by the Suns on Dec 16, 2004.

* AP