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Yudai Baba

  • Nationality: JPN
  • Date of Birth: 7/11/95
  • Place of Birth: Toyama (Japan)
  • Position: G/F
  • Height (CM): 196
  • Weight (KG): 90
  • Junior Assoc:
  • College: University of Tsukuba (Japan)

NBL CAREER OVERVIEW

NBL DEBUT 15/01/21 Age 25
LAST NBL GAME 2/05/22 Age 26

TEAM HISTORY

2 seasons | 1 team
  • 2021-22Melbourne United2 seasons

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Melbourne (2021)
1

BIO: Yudai Baba was born in Toyama (Japan).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Yudai Baba made his NBL debut with the Melbourne United at 25 years of age. He scored 10 points in his first game.

After finishing fourth with a 15-13 record and losing its semifinal series to Sydney the previous season, Melbourne reshaped its roster after multiple seasons trying to get import Casey Prather back onto the court, with United and Prather (released) mutually agreeing to terminate the second season of his contract. Coach Dean Vickerman added Jack White (via Duke University), Japanese guard Yudai Baba (via Texas Legends) and Scotty Hopson (via Europe), while captain Chris Goulding re-signed on a three-year deal, David Barlow on a one-year deal, Mason Peatling on a three-year deal and Sam McDaniel on a one-year deal. Jock Landale (via Žalgiris) completed the roster on a one-year deal after his planned NBA move did not eventuate and Melbourne negotiated a buyout of his remaining Lithuanian contract.

Baba joined Melbourne in July on a one-year NBL Special Restricted Player contract, which classified him as a local player, after spending the previous season with the Texas Legends in the NBA G-League. Melbourne’s first Asian player, Baba viewed the move to Australia as another step towards his goal of reaching the NBA.

“I wanted to play in a high level league and I wanted to improve my English, so that’s why I chose this league.” said Baba.

Baba made his NBL debut at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on January 15, finishing with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal as Melbourne defeated Adelaide 89-65. Lual-Acuil (16 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Goulding (16 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) led United, while Johnson (27 points and 5 rebounds) was Adelaide’s best.

Baba (7.8 points across 36 games) quickly became an important part of Melbourne’s perimeter defence, using his speed and defensive pressure whether starting or coming off the bench, while finishing the season with 31 steals and 9 blocks.

One of Baba’s breakout games came against Perth in Bendigo on February 7, where he finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks while spending significant time defending league MVP Bryce Cotton. Landale (16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) helped United overcome a 10-point third-quarter deficit to win 75-71 and remain undefeated, while Cotton (24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) led Perth.

Baba’s best scoring game came against Cairns in the NBL Cup at John Cain Arena on February 22, where he shot 6-8 from the field and finished with a season-high 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. With Melbourne trailing for the majority of the game, Baba scored 10 consecutive United points late while defending Scott Machado as Melbourne finished strongly to win 88-81. Landale (18 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks) and McCarron (17 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, and 1 block) helped Melbourne improve to 7-1, while Noi (27 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Cairns.

Baba suffered a corked calf against Adelaide on February 25 and faced a fitness test ahead of Melbourne’s next game, but passed it and played against Sydney two days later, meaning the injury did not cost him a game. An illness ruled Baba out against Illawarra on March 13. He was later sidelined for Melbourne’s May 16 and May 18 games, although no specific diagnosis was given in the available official reports. The box scores also show Baba did not play against Sydney on May 29, Cairns on May 31 or Adelaide on June 6, with no confirmed injury reason given for those late-season absences. He returned between those games to play against Brisbane on May 24 and Perth on June 4 and was available for every playoff game.

Landale (16.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 41 games) led Melbourne in scoring and earned All-NBL First Team honours, while Goulding (15.7 points across 36 games) remained the team’s leading perimeter threat despite missing six games with a low-grade calf strain. Hopson (11.9 points and 3.5 rebounds across 34 games), McCarron (9.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 steals across 42 games), Lual-Acuil (9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 41 games), White (9.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks across 11 games), Ili (6.6 points across 34 games) and Peatling (5.9 points and 4 rebounds across 39 games) gave Melbourne one of the league’s deepest rotations. White suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against Cairns in April and required around 12 months rehabilitation, leading Melbourne to sign former United big man David Andersen as an injury replacement player. Lual-Acuil was named the NBL’s Best Sixth Man, while Goulding and McCarron were selected to the All-NBL Second Team. Baba was named Melbourne United’s Defensive Player of the Year and also won the SHARE Award, voted on by the playing group after each game, as Melbourne finished first with a 28-8 record.

Victorian rivals South East Melbourne awaited in the semifinals, with Victoria’s COVID lockdown forcing all three games to be played without crowds at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena. Melbourne opened the series with a 96-78 win as Landale (26 points) and Hopson (22 points) led United, while Baba (0 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) contributed off the bench. Moore (17 points) and Creek (15 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) led the Phoenix.

South East Melbourne responded in game two, defeating Melbourne 90-79 as Baba (9 points) provided scoring from the bench. Hopson (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks), Goulding (14 points and 3 rebounds) and Lual-Acuil (11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks) led United, while Sykes (26 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals), Creek (26 points and 4 rebounds) and Wetzell (20 points and 8 rebounds) helped the Phoenix force a deciding game three.

Melbourne fell behind 32-15 early in the second quarter of game three before its defence locked in, holding South East Melbourne to 42 points the rest of the night while scoring 69 themselves. Landale (27 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) equalled his season-high while shooting 11-13 from the floor and 3/3 from beyond the arc, with Goulding (14 points and 2 steals), McCarron (11 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Baba (4 points, 1 assist, and 1 steal) helping United win 84-74 and advance to the Grand Final. Te Rangi (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals), Creek (19 points) and Sykes (15 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Phoenix.

Western Australia’s border restrictions meant Perth hosted the opening two games of the Grand Final at RAC Arena despite Melbourne holding home-court advantage, while the Wildcats entered the series without injured league MVP Cotton (23.5 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.5 steals across 32 games). Melbourne survived a late Perth comeback to win game one 73-70 as Goulding (23 points and 2 steals), Landale (17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Lual-Acuil (10 points and 7 rebounds) led United, while Baba (0 points, 1 assist, and 1 block) played 11 minutes. Blanchfield (27 points and 7 rebounds) and Kevin White (10 points and 5 rebounds) led Perth.

Game two remained at RAC Arena, where Baba (15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) produced one of his biggest performances of the season and joined Goulding (21 points) and Landale (12 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 assists) in helping Melbourne defeat Perth 83-74 and take a 2-0 series lead. Mooney (17 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists), Blanchfield (13 points and 8 rebounds), Norton (12 points) and Kevin White (12 points) led Perth.

Melbourne returned home for game three in front of a sold-out crowd capped at 5,000 under COVID restrictions at John Cain Arena. Landale (15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks), Goulding (14 points and 4 rebounds), Hopson (12 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals), Peatling (12 points) and Baba (11 points and 2 rebounds) helped United hold off Perth 81-76 to complete the 3-0 sweep, while Mooney (14 points and 13 rebounds), Kevin White (14 points) and Blanchfield (11 points and 11 rebounds) led the Wildcats. Melbourne claimed the franchise’s sixth championship and its second under the United branding, Landale was named Finals MVP and Baba threw down the final two-handed dunk in the closing seconds.

2021/22
After winning the 2021 championship, Melbourne entered the new season without leading scorer Jock Landale (to San Antonio), starting point guard Mitch McCarron (to Adelaide) and import Scotty Hopson. Dean Vickerman retained Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, David Barlow and Shea Ili, welcomed Jack White back after recovering from a ruptured Achilles and added Matthew Dellavedova (via Cleveland), Brad Newley (via Sydney), Dion Prewster (via Wellington), Caleb Agada (via Hapoel Be’er Sheva), Callum Dalton (via Brisbane) and Next Star Ariel Hukporti (via Nevėžis).

Melbourne recovered from its 0-2 start by winning three consecutive games to close December, went 5-1 during a January played entirely away from home and won four of five games in February to sit first with a 12-4 record. After Dalton suffered a season-ending ACL tear during training, Melbourne brought Yudai Baba (via Texas Legends) back on March 23 for the remainder of NBL22, giving United protection against further injuries and COVID absences. Baba had helped Melbourne win the previous championship before playing for Japan at the Tokyo Olympics and averaging 12.5 points and 5.4 rebounds in the G League.

Baba landed in Melbourne on the morning of United’s March 27 game and made his NBL22 return after completing his medical and visa approvals against Illawarra at John Cain Arena on April 2. Baba (5 points, 2 assists, and 1 steal) played 18 minutes off the bench as Melbourne led by six points with five minutes remaining, with White (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists), Goulding (16 points) and Lual-Acuil Jr (15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) leading United. Xavier Rathan-Mayes (25 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals), Antonius Cleveland (22 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Duop Reath (18 points and 9 rebounds) carried Illawarra on a 14-2 finish as the Hawks won 96-90.

Baba (3.9 points across 10 games) brought transition speed and perimeter defence back to Melbourne’s rotation, starting four of his seven regular-season appearances. His limited game total was caused by his late signing rather than an injury, with Baba playing every remaining regular-season game and all three semifinals after his return without an injury, illness or COVID absence.

“Since I came to Melbourne, I’ve been ready to play,” Baba said.

Baba’s best game came against Brisbane at John Cain Arena on April 16, where Baba (8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) produced his season-high scoring total and most complete two-way performance as Melbourne won 88-79 and improved to 19-7. Lual-Acuil Jr (25 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks), Ili (13 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals, and 1 block) and Goulding (13 points and 4 rebounds) led United, while Lamar Patterson (23 points and 10 rebounds), Jason Cadee (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Anthony Drmic (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Brisbane.

Two days later, Baba (7 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist) provided another productive performance off the bench as Melbourne defeated Cairns 92-80 at John Cain Arena and collected its fifth consecutive win. Goulding (27 points) made six three-pointers, Dellavedova (17 points and 5 rebounds) and Hukporti (12 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks) supported him, while Ben Ayre (20 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals) led Cairns. The victory improved United to 20-7 and all but secured a second consecutive minor premiership.

Lual-Acuil Jr (16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks across 30 games) led Melbourne in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, finished third in league MVP voting, earned All-NBL First Team honours and was named United’s club MVP. Goulding (15.1 points across 28 games) and Dellavedova (10.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists across 30 games) were selected to the All-NBL Second Team, while Agada (12.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 29 games), White (9.3 points and 7.1 rebounds across 26 games), Ili (8.7 points, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals across 31 games) and Hukporti (6.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 30 games) completed Melbourne’s main rotation. Ili won the NBL Best Sixth Man award and received United’s Defensive Player of the Year and SHARE awards.

Melbourne closed the regular season at MyState Bank Arena on April 23, where Baba (2 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block), Agada (22 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Lual-Acuil Jr (12 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) led United, but MiKyle McIntosh (20 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals), Josh Adams (19 points) and Josh Magette (14 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists) helped Tasmania win 83-61. Melbourne finished first with a 20-8 record.

Melbourne opened the semifinals at John Cain Arena with a 74-63 win over Tasmania, taking control of the series behind Agada (16 points and 7 rebounds), Lual-Acuil Jr (15 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 blocks) and Dellavedova (11 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists), while Baba (6 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist) provided 17 minutes off the bench. Adams (16 points and 5 rebounds) and Jack McVeigh (15 points and 4 rebounds) led the JackJumpers.

Game two moved to MyState Bank Arena, where Baba (0 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist) played five minutes as Goulding (18 points), Agada (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Lual-Acuil Jr (13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks) led Melbourne. McVeigh (15 points), McIntosh (13 points) and Magette (12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals) helped Tasmania win 79-72 and force a deciding game.

Goulding injured his calf during warm-ups and was ruled out shortly before game three at John Cain Arena, leaving Ili (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), Lual-Acuil Jr (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and White (14 points and 15 rebounds) to lead Melbourne, while Baba (6 points and 2 rebounds) played 26 minutes. Adams (30 points), McVeigh (16 points) and Magette (9 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals) led Tasmania, while Dellavedova, Agada, White and Baba combined to make one of 21 three-point attempts and United finished six of 29 from outside as the JackJumpers won 76-73.

Yudai Baba played two seasons with the Melbourne United. He averaged 6.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 46 NBL games.

NBL TOTAL STATISTICS

SEASONAGETEAMTEAM RECORDGPMINSPTSREBASTORDRSTLBLKTOPFFGMFGAFG%3PM3PA3P%FTMFTAFT%TS%EFG%HS
2021-2226Melbourne20-8 (1)1018139168412421113144630%42516%7888%39%35%8
2020-2125Melbourne28-8 (1)367072798044176331937579821945%309133%536285%57%52%17
Totals46888318965221753511487011226542.3%3411629.3%607085.7%54%49%17

NBL PER GAME STATISTICS

SEASONAGETEAMTEAM RECORDGPMINSPTSREBASTORDRSTLBLKTOPFFGMFGAFG%3PM3PA3P%FTMFTAFT%TS%EFG%HS
2021-2226Melbourne20-8 (1)1018.13.91.60.80.41.20.40.21.11.31.44.630%0.42.516%0.70.888%39%35%8
2020-2125Melbourne28-8 (1)3619.67.82.21.20.51.80.90.31.01.62.76.145%0.82.533%1.51.785%57%52%17
Total4619.36.92.11.10.51.60.80.21.01.52.45.842.3%0.72.529.3%1.31.585.7%54%49%17

CAREER HIGHS

POINTS REBOUNDS ASSISTS STEALS BLOCKS TURNOVERS TRIPLE DOUBLES
17543260

FIBA EXPERIENCE

Baba was a part of Japans national team for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Japan would fail to win a game (0-5) and finish the tournament ranked 31st out of 32 teams.

Baba would again represent Japan at the 2020 Olympic Games (Japan) where the team would again fail to win a game (0-3) and finish the tournament in eleventh place.

Baba was a part of the Japanese national team that competed at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and finished in 19th place (3-2 record).

FIBA TOTAL STATISTICS

YEARAGEGPMINSPTSREBASTORDRSTLBLKTOPFFGMFGAFG%3PM3PA3P%FTMFTAFT%
202429485093362144102441.7%41040.0%4666.7%
20232851093212114870106142751.9%31030.0%11100.0%
2020253842999363086122254.5%2633.3%3475.0%
201924512846131521181107174537.8%41330.8%81361.5%
Total1740610743381231201222235311845%133933%162467%

FIBA PER GAME STATISTICS

YEARAGEGPMINSPTSREBASTORDRSTLBLKTOPFFGMFGAFG%3PM3PA3P%FTMFTAFT%
202429421.30.02.30.80.81.50.50.31.01.02.56.041.7%1.02.540.0%1.01.566.7%
202328521.86.42.42.20.81.61.40.02.01.22.85.451.9%0.62.030.0%0.20.2100.0%
202025328.09.73.03.01.02.01.00.02.72.04.07.354.5%0.72.033.3%1.01.375.0%
201924525.69.22.63.00.42.21.62.20.01.43.49.037.8%0.82.630.8%1.62.661.5%
Total1723.96.32.52.20.71.81.20.71.31.43.16.945%0.82.333%0.91.467%

NBA EXPERIENCE

After playing professionally in Japan with Alvark Tokyo, Yudai Baba joined the Dallas Mavericks for the 2019 NBA Summer League. Dallas signed him on 19 September 2019 and waived him on 12 October after training camp; he did not appear in an NBA regular-season game for the Mavericks. He continued in the organisation with its NBA G League affiliate, the Texas Legends.

In the 2019/20 NBA G League regular season, Baba appeared in 41 games (five starts), averaging 6.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 19.6 minutes. He shot 50.5% from the field and 41.5% from three-point range. After his subsequent time playing for Melbourne United in the NBL, he returned to Texas; the Legends listed him as a returning player for the 2021/22 opening-night roster.

The leagues historical 2021/22 player profile lists eight Texas appearances (four starts), when Baba averaged 12.5 points, approximately 5.4–5.5 rebounds, 1.6–1.9 assists and 1.8 steals in 31.5 minutes. The historical archives differ slightly on his rebounding and assist averages, so a single supposedly exact figure is not asserted for those two categories.

During the 2022/23 Showcase Cup phase with Texas, Baba appeared in 16 games (14 starts), averaging 10.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 40.9% from three-point range. He then played 23 separate post-Showcase regular-season games (21 starts), averaging 12.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 40.8% on threes. The 39-game combined 2022/23 total shown on some career-summary pages comprises those 16 Showcase Cup and 23 regular-season games; it must not be added to either phase as another set of appearances.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Japan

    • Alvark Tokyo2017–2019
    • Nagasaki Velca2023–2027

Baba joined Alvark Tokyo for the 2017 B.League season, playing his first professional season in Japan after signing with the club on 30 June 2017.

In his debut 2017–18 B1 regular season, Baba played 40 games and started seven, averaging 8.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals. He also played five championship games, averaging 8.4 points and 3.8 rebounds as Alvark Tokyo won the B.LEAGUE title, and was named the leagues Newcomer of the Year.

Baba remained with Alvark Tokyo for 2018–19, appearing in 59 B1 regular-season games and averaging 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals. In six separate championship games he averaged 12.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Alvark repeated as B.LEAGUE champion by defeating Chiba Jets 71–67 in the final on 11 May 2019, with Baba recording 12 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two steals to earn Finals MVP honours; he also received the 2019 Best Sixth Man award.

In late September 2023, Baba joined Nagasaki Velca for the 2023–24 B.League season after being introduced by the club on 26 September 2023.

With Nagasaki Velca in 2023–24, Baba made 55 B1 regular-season appearances, starting 48 and averaging 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals. He received the B.LEAGUE Best Defender Award in 2024. In 2024–25, he averaged 14.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 48 regular-season games, with 47 starts.

During the 2025–26 B1 regular season, Baba started all 60 games for Nagasaki, averaging 12.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 51.8 percent from the field. He played alongside Hyunjung Lee, Akil Mitchell and Jarrell Brantley. Nagasaki went on to win its first B1 championship; Baba started all seven championship games, averaging 11.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.0 steal in 30.2 minutes. Baba received a second B1 Best Defensive Player award and was selected to the leagues Regular Season Second Team for 2025–26. He also earned the B.LEAGUE Finals Award for the most impressive play in Nagasakis title-winning series. The official league roster lists Baba continuing with Nagasaki for 2026–27.

AWARDS


- 3× Japanese B1 champion (2017–18, 2018–19 with Alvark Tokyo; 2025–26 with Nagasaki Velca)
- B1 Best Defensive Player (2023–24, 2025–26)
- B1 Regular Season Second Team (2025–26)
- B.LEAGUE Finals Award (2025–26)
- B.LEAGUE Championship MVP (2018–19)
- B1 Best Sixth Man (2018–19)
- B1 Rookie of the Year (2017–18)

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