JPN – Japan guard Kawamura joins Summer League Suns

PHOENIX (NBA) – Japanese guard Takuya Kawamura has been added to the Phoenix Suns’ squad for the Las Vegas Summer League.

The 23-year-old, who spent last season with Link Tochigi Brex in the JBL, averaged 11 minutes per game for Japan when they hosted the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

Kawamura has apparently turned down a chance to play for Japan this summer to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA.

Phoenix made history back in 2004 when they signed Yuta Tabuse, who the became the first Japanese to play in the NBA.

Tabuse only played a handful of games with the Suns, however, before being released.

The 27-year-old hasn’t given up on his dream of making it in the NBA, though.

Tabuse had intended to attend a Dallas Mavericks mini-camp last month but was prevented from doing so because of injury.

He recently signed a two-year deal to play with the Tochigi.

Tabuse has a clause inserted into his contract which allows him to move to North America if an NBA team makes him an offer.

“There are some people that may be surprised with this move but I want to continue my challenge to play in the NBA and the world’s top leagues and this is part of that challenge,” Tabuse said on his official Website.

“To continue that challenge the thing I have been looking for more than anything else is playing time so I decided to return to Japan.”

Tabuse should feel right at home with Tochigi, whose manager Mitsuhiko Kato coached him in high school in Akita Prefecture.

FIBA