As expected, the Dallas Mavericks finalized a contract with Yudai Baba on Thursday, signing the 23-year-old free agent to a contract in the run-up to the team's 2019-20 preseason training camp.
The Mavericks announced that terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Baba becomes the first player most recently under contract with a B. League team to sign a deal with an NBA club.
The 198-cm Baba, who spent the first two seasons of his pro career with the B. League's Alvark Tokyo, competed for Dallas during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas in July. He was listed as a small forward during his time in the B. League.
The Mavs list the Toyama native, who earned the B. League Final MVP award in May while helping the Alvark capture their second consecutive title, as a guard. Baba's electrifying performance in the final (12 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two steals) showcased his all-around skills.
Dallas, which brought Baba to its mini-camp before the Summer League, opens training camp on Oct. 1. The team currently has a maximum 20 players scheduled to participate in training camp.
