Yudai Baba

Professional career

Yudai Baba is a Japanese professional basketball player who currently plays for Nagasaki Velca in the B.League. He played college basketball at the University of Tsukuba and represents the Japan men's national team. In high school, he played for Toyama Daiichi High School, where his father, Toshiharu Baba, served as head coach. At the University of Tsukuba, Baba helped the team win the All Japan Intercollegiate Basketball Championship in 2015 and again in 2016, when he and teammate Shusuke Ikuhara received the best player award.

Baba began his professional career with Alvark Tokyo in June 2017. During his first season, he scored a career-high 22 points in a loss to Levanga Hokkaido and recorded a career-high three blocks in a loss to the Hitachi Sun Rockers.

He helped Tokyo win their first B.League championship, contributing 14 points and three steals in the final, and was named Newcomer of the Year. The following season, he dished out a career-high 10 assists in a loss to Link Tochigi Brex, posted a career-high efficiency rating in a win over Yokohama B-Corsairs, grabbed a career-high nine rebounds against Fukuoka Rizing, and recorded a career-high six steals against Akita Northern Happinets. He led Tokyo to a second straight title, earned B.League Final MVP honors with 12 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and two steals in the final, and was named Best Sixth Man.

In September 2019, Baba signed with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks but was waived in October. He then joined the Texas Legends of the G League, playing 41 games and averaging 6.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 steals. For being the first Japanese player to move from the B.League to the NBA, he received the B.League's Break the Border award.

National team career

Yudai Baba has represented Japan on the international stage. In the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup, he put up per-game averages of 5.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals, while also leading his team from the free-throw line with a perfect 100 percent rate.

During the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, his numbers rose to 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per contest. At the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, he appeared in all five games, averaging 9.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals. His standout performance came against the United States, where he scored a team-high 18 points and recorded 3 steals in a 98–45 loss, outscoring Japanese NBA players Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe.

Did You Know?

• NBL commentator Corey 'Homicide' Williams gave Baba the nickname 'Tokyo Drift' for his speed.
• Baba married Japanese actress Kanna Mori on 1 July 2021.
• His father, Toshiharu Baba, played for Japan's national team from the 1970s until the 80s.
• Baba attended the School of Health and Physical Education at the University of Tsukuba.