TOKYO - YUTA Tabuse, the only Japanese ever to have played in the US National Basketball Association, is taking another shot at the world's premier stage for the sport.

He has been invited to the NBA Dallas Mavericks' pre-summer mini-camp on June 11-12 and will skip the inaugural East Asian championships to be held in the central Japanese city of Komaki in mid-June.

'I have nothing to lose. I want to face it with confidence,' the 28-year-old, who briefly played with the Phoenix Suns as a point guard in the 2004-2005 season, told a news conference here on Saturday. 'I have no worries at all. I feel it is the time to fight again.'

The mini-camp is an opportunity for aspiring players to vye for spots in NBA's summer league in July, another try-out before the clubs announce their final 12-man rosters in November.

'I may have to overcome a few things in physical and other aspects but I believe my speed will be alright,' he said, citing the need to work on one-on-one match-ups and shooting skills.

Standing just 173 centimetres, Tabuse played in four games with the Suns. He scored seven points against Atlanta in his first NBA game but his stint at Phoenix ended after about a month when he was waived in December 2004.

Tabuse has since played in the NBA development league and elsewhere before joining the Tochigi Brex in the Japan Basketball League last year. -- AFP