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Knicks sign Yudai Baba to SL contract. He’s The Japanese Sensation! Also known as “Tokyo Drift” which translates to Babamania.

Here's a quick overview of his basketball career:

Age: 29 years old.

Birthplace: Toyama, Japan.

Position: Guard.

Height & Weight: 6'5" and 198lbs.

Experience:

Played in the NBA G League with the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks' affiliate team.

Averaged 6.3 PPG in his lone G League season (2019-20).

Played in Japan's top league and represented the Japanese national team.

Won the Japanese top division title twice and was Final MVP in 2019.

Won an NBL title in Australia in 2021.

Represented Japan in two FIBA World Cups and the Olympics.

Nicknames: "Tokyo Drift" (given by a commentator in Australia) and "Baba Boom" (referring to his signature dunk).

Known for: Athleticism, flashy style, acrobatic layups, and above-the-rim play.



Our boy can shoot the 3!

When the guy asks me if I want a lot or a little off the the top I tell him “Yudai Baba”

Real talk though my son is excited to watch him and Dink Pate in summer league.

HarthorneWingo wrote:Knicks sign Yudai Baba to SL contract. He’s The Japanese Sensation! Also known as “Tokyo Drift” which translates to Babamania.

Here's a quick overview of his basketball career:

Age: 29 years old.

Birthplace: Toyama, Japan.

Position: Guard.

Height & Weight: 6'5" and 198lbs.

Experience:

Played in the NBA G League with the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks' affiliate team.

Averaged 6.3 PPG in his lone G League season (2019-20).

Played in Japan's top league and represented the Japanese national team.

Won the Japanese top division title twice and was Final MVP in 2019.

Won an NBL title in Australia in 2021.

Represented Japan in two FIBA World Cups and the Olympics.

Nicknames: "Tokyo Drift" (given by a commentator in Australia) and "Baba Boom" (referring to his signature dunk).

Known for: Athleticism, flashy style, acrobatic layups, and above-the-rim play.

Watch on YouTube

Our boy can shoot the 3!

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Awesome. He never missed a shot in those videos
In the last video, I turned on the Youtube subtitles. At one point the translation was he looked like Tim Hardbeige. OK cool.

Knicks leading the league in collecting unusual and fun to say names

Baba Booey

Please make the team and get Clyde's brain going. "You try an block his dunk, you die!"

His name sounds like a Star Wars character...

I'm not sold on him being a legit 2-way player who sees time with the team, though his 3 pt shooting percentage is solid.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/gleague/players/b/babayu01d.html

Babasanity.

Richard4444 wrote:His name sounds like a Star Wars character...

Right, it seems you are.

BKlutch wrote:

HarthorneWingo wrote:Knicks sign Yudai Baba to SL contract. He’s The Japanese Sensation! Also known as “Tokyo Drift” which translates to Babamania.

Here's a quick overview of his basketball career:

Age: 29 years old.

Birthplace: Toyama, Japan.

Position: Guard.

Height & Weight: 6'5" and 198lbs.

Experience:

Played in the NBA G League with the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks' affiliate team.

Averaged 6.3 PPG in his lone G League season (2019-20).

Played in Japan's top league and represented the Japanese national team.

Won the Japanese top division title twice and was Final MVP in 2019.

Won an NBL title in Australia in 2021.

Represented Japan in two FIBA World Cups and the Olympics.

Nicknames: "Tokyo Drift" (given by a commentator in Australia) and "Baba Boom" (referring to his signature dunk).

Known for: Athleticism, flashy style, acrobatic layups, and above-the-rim play.

Watch on YouTube

Our boy can shoot the 3!

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Awesome. He never missed a shot in those videos
In the last video, I turned on the Youtube subtitles. At one point the translation was he looked like Tim Hardbeige. OK cool.

It’s true! Never ever missed a shot in his entire life.

HarthorneWingo wrote:

BKlutch wrote:

HarthorneWingo wrote:Knicks sign Yudai Baba to SL contract. He’s The Japanese Sensation! Also known as “Tokyo Drift” which translates to Babamania.

Here's a quick overview of his basketball career:

Age: 29 years old.

Birthplace: Toyama, Japan.

Position: Guard.

Height & Weight: 6'5" and 198lbs.

Experience:

Played in the NBA G League with the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks' affiliate team.

Averaged 6.3 PPG in his lone G League season (2019-20).

Played in Japan's top league and represented the Japanese national team.

Won the Japanese top division title twice and was Final MVP in 2019.

Won an NBL title in Australia in 2021.

Represented Japan in two FIBA World Cups and the Olympics.

Nicknames: "Tokyo Drift" (given by a commentator in Australia) and "Baba Boom" (referring to his signature dunk).

Known for: Athleticism, flashy style, acrobatic layups, and above-the-rim play.

Watch on YouTube

Our boy can shoot the 3!

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Awesome. He never missed a shot in those videos
In the last video, I turned on the Youtube subtitles. At one point the translation was he looked like Tim Hardbeige. OK cool.

It’s true! Never ever missed a shot in his entire life.

Those amazing Japanese imports. First they took over cars... now, watch out NBA!

All these guys are competing for the 3 2-way spots. There's no way we need another G on this team.

Baba Yaga!!

StlHawksFan wrote:All these guys are competing for the 3 2-way spots. There's no way we need another G on this team.

Two-way deals can be roster depth or guys too young to contribute, who {may} be ready to contribute in a couple years.

I suspect, Nnaji, Pate & Diawara are in consideration for 2-way contracts. McCullar is also in the mix and he was a 2-way last year. He could also be a cheap rookie deal. MarJon Beauchamp was on a 2-way last year and is on the summer league roster, so him too.

Baba has nice 3 point shooting numbers and he's a 6'6 guard, so I could see an injury to Clarkson opening up an end of the bench spot for him, but only if he can shoot 3s at a 40% clip.

I think there's a chance, he gets a two-way if he impresses in SL, but he's a long shot.

Luv those Knicks wrote:

StlHawksFan wrote:All these guys are competing for the 3 2-way spots. There's no way we need another G on this team.

Two-way deals can be roster depth or guys too young to contribute, who be ready to contribute in a couple years.

I suspect, Nnaji, Pate & Diawara are in consideration for 2-way contracts. McCullar is also in the mix and he was a 2-way last year. He could also be a cheap rookie deal. MarJon Beauchamp was on a 2-way last year and is on the summer league roster, so him too.

Baba has nice 3 point shooting numbers and he's a 6'6 guard, so I could see an injury to Clarkson opening up an end of the bench spot for him, but only if he can shoot 3s at a 40% clip.

I think there's a chance, he gets a two-way if he impresses in SL, but he's a long shot.

Half the fun of SL is seeing how unknowns with potential but few accomplishments can do. Whenever one of them is lots better than expected, it makes for a great story.
The other half of the fun of SL is to see the guys we drafted with some hope they can make the roster. And the guys from last year's draft, who didn't play much during the season.

We should root for all of these kids to play like super stars and have a chance to make the team, but we should keep our expectations in check.

thebuzzardman wrote:Knicks leading the league in collecting unusual and fun to say names

One of us lucky members here might be next…

Luv those Knicks wrote:

StlHawksFan wrote:All these guys are competing for the 3 2-way spots. There's no way we need another G on this team.

Two-way deals can be roster depth or guys too young to contribute, who {may} be ready to contribute in a couple years.

I suspect, Nnaji, Pate & Diawara are in consideration for 2-way contracts. McCullar is also in the mix and he was a 2-way last year. He could also be a cheap rookie deal. MarJon Beauchamp was on a 2-way last year and is on the summer league roster, so him too.

Baba has nice 3 point shooting numbers and he's a 6'6 guard, so I could see an injury to Clarkson opening up an end of the bench spot for him, but only if he can shoot 3s at a 40% clip.

I think there's a chance, he gets a two-way if he impresses in SL, but he's a long shot.

But another thing is, for a title contending team like us, we may not be able to afford or nurture too many youngsters, so Baba's experience in international games and other leagues could make him more ready to competitive professional basketball. So if he really shoot 3s in a good percentage I like his chance for the 2-way deal. I mean if Watanabe could have his moments then maybe Baba can too.

BKlutch wrote:

Luv those Knicks wrote:

StlHawksFan wrote:All these guys are competing for the 3 2-way spots. There's no way we need another G on this team.

Two-way deals can be roster depth or guys too young to contribute, who be ready to contribute in a couple years.

I suspect, Nnaji, Pate & Diawara are in consideration for 2-way contracts. McCullar is also in the mix and he was a 2-way last year. He could also be a cheap rookie deal. MarJon Beauchamp was on a 2-way last year and is on the summer league roster, so him too.

Baba has nice 3 point shooting numbers and he's a 6'6 guard, so I could see an injury to Clarkson opening up an end of the bench spot for him, but only if he can shoot 3s at a 40% clip.

I think there's a chance, he gets a two-way if he impresses in SL, but he's a long shot.

Half the fun of SL is seeing how unknowns with potential but few accomplishments can do. Whenever one of them is lots better than expected, it makes for a great story.
The other half of the fun of SL is to see the guys we drafted with some hope they can make the roster. And the guys from last year's draft, who didn't play much during the season.

We should root for all of these kids to play like super stars and have a chance to make the team, but we should keep our expectations in check.

Yeah the best of them (better from our team, but could also be from other teams) being picked by us. We only have vet min or rookie contracts to offer now.

Baba Yaga?