Posted on: Tuesday, November 2, 2004
Ex-BYUH player makes Suns roster
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Former Brigham Young-Hawai'i guard Yuta Tabuse made history by making the opening day roster of the Phoenix Suns yesterday.
Tabuse, 24, is the first player born and raised in Japan to make an NBA roster.
"I feel great now, but I'm going to keep playing hard," he said. "Hopefully, Japanese people will be proud of my station right now and hopefully will keep on cheering me."
Tabuse is a 5-foot-9 point guard from Yokohama, Japan. He was at BYU-Hawai'i from 2000-02, although he only played during the 2001-02 season.
Tabuse is expected to be in uniform tomorrow when the Suns open the regular season with a home game against Atlanta. He will play behind all-star Steve Nash.
"True point guards are hard to find and Yuta is a true point guard," Nash said. "He's going to be a valuable part of our team and hopefully he'll get a good year to develop."
Tabuse is one of Japan's most popular athletes, and more than 40 media outlets from Japan have been following him through training camp.
After leaving BYUH, Tabuse returned to Japan to play professional basketball. He tried out with the Denver Nuggets last season, but was released shortly before the regular season. He signed with Phoenix as a free agent this season.
Timberwolves
Former 'Bow Carter on Minnesota roster
Former University of Hawai'i star Anthony Carter made the opening day roster for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Carter, 29, is expected to be a back-up point guard for Minnesota behind Sam Cassell. In seven preseason games, he averaged 3.6 points and 4.1 assists per game.
It is his third NBA team in the last three seasons. Carter played four seasons with Miami, then signed with San Antonio last season. For his career, Carter is averaging 5.5 points and 4.3 assists per game.
His season was cut short last year after he underwent surgery on his left knee.
Heat O'Neal still hopeful of playing in opener
Shaquille O'Neal remains bothered by a strained left hamstring, yet the 11-time All-Star center hopes to play tomorrow when Miami opens its season at New Jersey.
O'Neal missed most of Miami's practice yesterday, sparking concerns that the injury is worse than feared. The Heat, however, did not place O'Neal on the injured list, indicating they believe the problem is minor. O'Neal, acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers in an offseason trade, was not made available to reporters.
Notes
Bulls: Chicago parted ways with forward Eddie Robinson yesterday, buying out the last two years of his contract for $10.5 million. Robinson had two years and $13.9 million left on the deal he signed in 2001. The buyout makes him a free agent, and the Bulls agreed to pay him regardless if he signs with a new team. James Bryant, one of Robinson's agents, said a handful of teams have already expressed interest and he could have a new deal by next week.
Rockets: Houston signed two-time NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady to a multiyear contract extension yesterday. Terms of the deal were not released.
Kings: Forward David Bluthenthal and second-round pick Ricky Minard were released yesterday as Sacramento finalized its roster. The Kings also cut forward Alton Ford and placed guard Courtney Alexander on the injured list with a sore left foot.
Blazers: Portland forward Zach Randolph agreed to a six-year, $84 million contract extension yesterday. Randolph was seeking a six-year, $86 million deal, the maximum allowed under the league's collective bargaining agreement. He can make an additional $2 million if he is named to the All-Star team each year over the duration of the contract.
Trade: Charlotte traded forward Brandon Hunter to Orlando yesterday in exchange for guard Keith Bogans. Bogans was selected out of Kentucky by Milwaukee with the 43rd overall pick in the 2003 draft but was traded to Orlando on draft night. He appeared in 73 games as a rookie, averaging 6.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Hunter was picked by the Bobcats in the expansion draft after playing his rookie season in Boston, averaging 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 36 games.
