NBA Players from Japan: Full List (2026)
6 NBA players have come from Japan, by Wikipedia’s count (including 2 U.S.-born Japanese). Our table below names 5: players born outside the United States with a tie to Japan, plus current players listed with its nationality. As of October 2026, 2 are on an NBA roster: Rui Hachimura (Los Angeles Clippers) and Yuki Kawamura (Los Angeles Clippers).
NBA players from Japan at a glance
| NBA players, all time | 6 (Wikipedia count); 5 named in our table |
|---|---|
| On NBA rosters, October 2026 | 2: Rui Hachimura, Yuki Kawamura |
| First to play in the NBA | Yuta Tabuse (2004) |
| Longest NBA career | Rui Hachimura (7 seasons) |
| Centers | None yet |
| 7-foot prospects in our database | None right now |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Every NBA player from Japan
Sorted by NBA debut, earliest first. Status is as of October 2026, before the 2026-27 regular season, so it includes players on training camp deals.
| Player | Position | NBA seasons | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuta Tabuse | Guard | 2004 | Former player | |
| Yuta Watanabe | Forward | 2018-2024 | Former player | |
| Rui Hachimura | Forward | 2019 to present | Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Cameron Thomas | Forward | 2021-2026 | Not on an NBA roster | Born in Japan; listed under the United States |
| Yuki Kawamura | Guard | 2024 to present | Los Angeles Clippers |
Players from Japan in the NBA in 2026-27
- Rui Hachimura: forward, 6’8″, age 28, Los Angeles Clippers. Entering NBA season 8; drafted in 2019, round 1, pick 9.
- Yuki Kawamura: guard, 5’7″, age 25, Los Angeles Clippers. Entering NBA season 3; undrafted.
NBA centers from Japan
No player from Japan has played center in the NBA so far.
7-Foot Prospects from Japan
No active player from Japan listed at 7 feet or taller and born in 2001 or later is in our 7-Foot Prospect Database right now (last checked on 9 October 2026). The database tracks nearly 400 young 7-footers from 61 countries, and we add new names as they appear.
Player profiles from our archive
This section was first published in 2018. Teams and career details in it are as of that time; the tables above show where things stand in October 2026.
Japan is one of the Asian nations with the longest basketball traditions, and at the same time, it is one of the founders of FIBA Asia. The Japanese national basketball team had some impressive results in the past. They have two gold medals from the Asian Basketball Championship, been four times at the FIBA World Cup, and played at six Olympic tournaments.
Japan NBA Players:
Yuta Tabuse
Tabuse was born on October 5, 1980, in Yokohama. Standing at 5’ 9” he plays at the position of point guard. With his high school, he won three consecutive national championships, earning him the nickname “the Michael Jordan of Japan”.
Before pursuing a career in the NBA, he played for the Toyota Alvark in the Japanese super league. He attempted to get into the NBA through summer camps. He first tried with Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets, but neither of them offered him a contract. His third attempt was with the Phoenix Suns in 2004, and it was a successful, at least to some extent. On November 3, 2004, he had his debut against the Atlanta Hawks. That was the first time for a Japanese player to play in the NBA. However, his fairy tale lasted for only four games before being let go. He spent some time in the development NBA league before returning in the Japanese league. Currently, he is under contract with Link Tochigi Brex.
J. R. Sakuragi
Born as Milton Henderson on October 30, 1976, in Bakersfield, California, he is 6’ 8” and plays as forward. He played college basketball at UCLA before entering the 1998 NBA draft. There he was picked as 56th by the Vancouver Grizzlies. After just one season his contract was waived. In the next two years, he was playing for summer league clubs in the Philippines, Puerto Rico, France, and Vegas.
In 2001 he signed up for the Aisin Seahorses in the Japanese super League. In 2007 he changed his name from J.R Henderson to J.R. Sakuragi to speed up his naturalization so he could become a Japanese citizen. As a result, he was allowed to play for the Japanese national basketball team.
Frequently asked questions
How many NBA players are from Japan?
Wikipedia counts 6 (including 2 U.S.-born Japanese). Our table names 5 players with a tie to Japan.
Which players from Japan are in the NBA in 2026-27?
As of October 2026: Rui Hachimura (Los Angeles Clippers) and Yuki Kawamura (Los Angeles Clippers).
Who was the first NBA player from Japan?
Yuta Tabuse, who debuted in 2004.
Which centers from Japan have played in the NBA?
None so far.
Are there 7-foot prospects from Japan?
Not right now. Our 7-Foot Prospect Database has no active player from Japan listed at 7 feet or taller and born in 2001 or later.
More guides: NBA players by country. Scouting reports: NBA center prospects.
Sources: Wikipedia, List of NBA players born outside the United States (revision of 3 October 2026); RealGM NBA player list (9 October 2026); Low Key NBA 7-Foot Prospect Database. U.S.-born players with family ties to Japan may be missing from the table. Last checked 9 October 2026.
