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5’5″ Japanese player is the talk of NBA Summer League

July 21, 2014

Japanese basketball player Yuki Togashi may not win a spot on the Dallas Mavericks’ roster, but he has won a place fans’ hearts.

Standing just over 167 centimeters (5-foot-5) tall, the 20-year -old point guard became a cult hero at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas last week with his fearless play.

Or as he puts it, “Yeah, I know I look like I’m 15 years old.”

Togashi is a star in Japan, but virtually unknown in the United States. That changed on last Wednesday, when he scored 11 points in 12 minutes against the Charlotte Hornets.

Fans began chanting, “Toga, Toga” whenever he touched the ball.

The NBA Summer League is a showcase for rookies and free agents, and Togashi certainly showed what he can do.

Togashi actually went to Montrose Christian high school in Maryland, the alma matter of NBA superstar Kevin Durant, but returned to Japan when no Division  school offered him a scholarship, just like Jeremy Lin didn’t receive any after a stellar high school career.

Togashi is much better known in Japan’s BJ league, where he averages 15.3 points and 7.6 assists a game for the Akita Northern Happinets.

Although he is 30 centimeters shorter than the average NBA player, there is precedent for small players in the NBA, including Earl Boykin (5-5), Spud Webb (5-7) and Muggsy Bogues (5-3).

*Photo – Japantimes.co.jp