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 Watanabe with theJapan national team in 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 1 – Chiba Jets Funabashi | |||||||||||||||
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| Position | Small forward /power forward | ||||||||||||||
| League | B.League | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1994-10-13)October 13, 1994 (age 30) Yokohama, Japan | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school |
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| College | George Washington (2014–2018) | ||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2018:undrafted | ||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2018–present | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | Memphis Grizzlies | ||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | →Memphis Hustle | ||||||||||||||
| 2020–2022 | Toronto Raptors | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 | →Raptors 905 | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Brooklyn Nets | ||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Phoenix Suns | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Memphis Grizzlies | ||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Chiba Jets Funabashi | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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Stats at NBA.com  | |||||||||||||||
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Yuta Watanabe (渡邊 雄太,Watanabe Yūta, born October 13, 1994) is a Japanese professionalbasketball player for theChiba Jets Funabashi of theB.League. He playedcollege basketball in the United States for theGeorge Washington Colonials (now Revolutionaries), becoming the first Japanese-bornstudent athlete to secure anNCAA Division I basketballscholarship.[1] He was namedAtlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. He has also represented theJapan national team, helping them win the bronze medal at the2013 East Asia Basketball Championship.
Before moving to the collegiate level, Watanabe attended Jinsei Gakuen High School inZentsūji, Kagawa. He later transferred to St. Thomas More Preparatory School inOakdale, Connecticut in 2013. Watanabe rose to fame in his high school program, and was one of their most valuable players in the National Prep School Invitational as a senior in 2014. In college, he became the fourth-ever Japanese-born Division I basketball player.
Watanabe attended Jinsei Gakuen High School in Kagawa. He led the basketball team to the runner-up spot of the All-Japan High School Basketball Tournament in his final two years with the program. While in Jinsei Gakuen, Watanabe said his career goal was to make it to the NCAA and ultimately join theNBA.[2][3]
In late 2013, Watanabe traveled to the United States and attendedSt. Thomas More Preparatory School inOakdale, Connecticut. At the conclusion of his sole high school season outside his native country, Watanabe averaged 13 points and six rebounds. He helped the team reach a 26–8 overall record and a ticket to the National Prep Championship game. On January 31, 2014, in his first appearance in the annual National Prep School Invitational, Watanabe scored 12 points versusSuffield Academy. He contributed 20 points and six rebounds in a 70–61 victory against Canarias Basketball Academy from Spain.[4] As a result, he was named to the National Prep School Invitational All-Tournament Team and garnered prestigiousNew England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class AAA First Team All-League honors.[5] Watanabe was also labeled "the Chosen One" byThe Japan Times.[2]
Watanabe was rated a 77 (three-star recruit) byESPN Recruiting Nation. He was also given a three-star rating byScout.com and the same composite grade.[6]
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In fall 2014,George Washington Colonials head coachMike Lonergan received a phone call from Jamie Cosgrove, a coach atTrinity College who saw Watanabe play with St. Thomas More.[6] Watanabe eventually committed to play for GWU. This allowed him to attend GWU in the 2014-15 year as a freshman.[8] It was made official when Watanabe posted the message throughTwitter, "I've decided to go to George Washington University. The school has a good basketball team, too. I'm sure I'll have hard times both in basketball and academics, but I'll give it my best shot."[9] According to ESPN, his second option wasFordham, who gave Watanabe an offer to join their team as well.[9] He became the first Japanese-born male player to get anNCAA Division I basketballscholarship[10][11] and just the fourth to play college basketball at that level.[a][12] Regarding Watanabe's collegiate career, former Japanese college basketball playerKJ Matsui said, "It's good for Nabe-chan (Watanabe) to play at a competitive team, but he's going to have to battle for playing time."[13] The Colonials had four other recruits coming into the program for2014–15: Anthony Swan, Darian Bryant, Matt Cimino, and Paul Jorgensen.[14]
After he joinedGeorge Washington in 2014, featured profiles of Watanabe were published by major American newspapers such asThe New York Times andThe Washington Post.[15] On Watanabe's athletic caliber and exceptional career breakthrough into the NBA, where players of East Asian descent are uncommon, formerRichmond Spiders men's basketball player and half-ChineseZach Chu said, "To see someone of Asian descent, and play as well as he does, it's cool for college basketball, really cool for the Asian community."[10] The George Washington athletics website received the second-most views from Japan in hits by country, ranked behind only the U.S. On many occasions, he was congratulated on the school's campus.[10] Speaking on his ethnic and racial background, sporting fame and athletic legacy, he said, "Japanese are thinking Americans are bigger and taller and more athletic. They are thinking it's more difficult for Japanese to play in NCAA, but I'm playing right now, so I want to make other people come to the United States."[10] NBA-bound players of East Asian ancestry such as Matsui,Yao Ming,Jeremy Lin, andYuki Togashi have been the target of racist comments in the past, but Watanabe apparently did not receive racially insensitive remarks in his first few years in the NBA and the U.S.[10] Nevertheless, he said, "If they said something racist, I don't care."[10]
On November 14, 2014, Watanabe made his debut forGeorge Washington, againstGrambling State, finishing with eight points, seven rebounds and a block in 20 minutes, contributing to the team's 92–40 win, its largest win since 1999.[16][17] On December 12, Watanabe was namedAtlantic 10 Rookie of the Week after averaging 9.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in three games as he helped the team win the 2014Diamond Head Classic crown.[18] Watanabe hit a key three-pointer with 3 minutes and 32 seconds remaining to upsetWichita State with a 60–54 win on December 25.[19] On March 7, he set a career-high 21 points, knocking down seven 3-pointers, againstMassachusetts.[11][20] On March 9, Watanabe earned his second Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honor, becoming the first to earn multiple Rookie of the Week awards in the same season sinceLasan Kromah earned three in 2009–10. He led the Colonials to a 2–0 final week of the Atlantic 10 regular season with a team-best 13.5 points on 53 percent shooting, including 64 percent behind the arc, along with five rebounds and two assists.[21][22]
As a freshman, Watanabe was a key bench player and an instrumental element on the Colonials' rotation. He was often awarded playing time in late-game situations.[10] Head coachMike Lonergan said, "With Yuta, we have scoring off the bench. If I start Yuta, we have no scoring off the bench at all."[10]
On March 5, 2016, Watanabe posted career-highs in scoring and assists with 22 points and six assists in George Washington's 87–80 loss toDavidson.[23] On March 31, he logged a team-high 19 points and a career-high four blocks as George Washington won the2016 National Invitation Tournament with a 76–60 win overValparaiso.[23][24] It was the first time in program history the team won a postseason championship.[24]
Overall, Watanabe was the team's leader in blocked shots with 40, ranking second in theAtlantic 10. His 8.4 points per game was the fifth best on the team.[11]
On November 15, 2016, Watanabe logged his first double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds in a 77–75 victory overSiena.[25] On January 8, 2017, he had a career-high three steals in a game againstRichmond. Watanabe scored a season-high 21 points in an 80–71 loss againstIllinois on March 20.[25]
As a junior, Watanabe was the second-leading scorer at George Washington at 12.2 points per game.[26] He was also named to theAtlantic 10 All-Defensive Team.[27]
On November 20, 2017, Watanabe grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds versusRider.[28] On November 29, he logged a career-high five steals againstMorgan State.[28] In his final game for the Colonials on February 28, 2018, Watanabe scored a career-high 31 points in a 72–56 win overFordham .[28][29]
As a senior, Watanabe was George Washington's leading scorer at 16.3 points per game and second-leading rebounder with 6.1 per game, while also leading the team in blocks with 54.[26] He was named theAtlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year,[30][31] becoming the first Colonial to win the award.[32] Watanabe also made the Atlantic 10 All-Conference's Third Team and Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team.[31] He also received George Washington'sPatricio Garino Defensive Award andMike Brown MVP Award, both awards named after the former basketball alumni.[33]
At the conclusion of Watanabe's college career, he ranked near the top of key categories in GWU history including second in blocked shots (147), second in games played (134) and 15th in scoring (1,460).[26]
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After going undrafted in the2018 NBA draft, Watanabe played for theBrooklyn Nets in the2018 NBA Summer League.[30] Afterwards, he signed atwo-way contract with theMemphis Grizzlies and theirNBA G League affiliate, theMemphis Hustle.[34] On October 27, 2018, Watanabe made his NBA debut, coming off the bench with two points and two rebounds in a 117–96 win over thePhoenix Suns. He became the second Japanese player to play in the NBA afterYuta Tabuse, who debuted with thePhoenix Suns in 2004.[35] Though he spent the majority of the season in the G League with the Hustle, the Grizzlies were third behind theLos Angeles Lakers andGolden State Warriors in merchandise sold in Japan due to Watanabe's presence.[36] In the G League, Watanabe started in 32 of 33 games, averaging 14.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 blocks in 33.9 minutes while shooting 43.6 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from 3-point range.[37][38]
Watanabe shared his time playing back and forth for the Grizzlies and the Hustle for the season. On December 14, 2019, Watanabe andRui Hachimura of theWashington Wizards became the first pair of Japanese players to share the court in the NBA.[39][40] On January 4, 2020, Watanabe had a team-high 28 points on 12-of-19 field goal shooting and 2-of-4 from three, to go with seven rebounds, four blocks, two assists and two steals in the Hustle's 130–127 win over theIowa Wolves.[41] He scored a career-high 40 points on 14-of-20 shooting from the field and 8-of-11 from three on January 22, in a win versus theDelaware Blue Coats.[42][43] Watanabe was named Midseason All-NBA G League for the Western Conference.[44][45] In the G League, Watanabe started in all 22 games, averaging 17.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 block in 32.7 minutes while shooting 54.6 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from 3-point range.[37][46]
On November 27, 2020, Watanabe signed anExhibit 10 deal with theToronto Raptors to join their pre-season roster.[47][48] On December 19, his deal was converted to a two-way contract, after he made the team out of pre-season.[49][50] On December 31, Watanabe debuted for theToronto Raptors, recording four rebounds, one assist, a block and a steal across nine minutes in a 100–83 win overNew York Knicks, notching their first victory of the season.[51][52] On January 29, 2021, Watanabe scored a then career-high 12 points coming off the bench, along with six rebounds, two assists and two steals in a season-high 24 minutes of action in a 126–124 loss to theSacramento Kings.[53][54] In the fourth quarter, Watanabe logged seven points including a layup that cut the lead to one point.[55][56] On February 9, Watanabe sustained a left ankle injury during a workout.[57][58][59] After missing four games, he returned to action on February 18, logging two rebounds and a block across six minutes of play in a 110–96 win over theMilwaukee Bucks.[60] On March 4, Watanabe made his first career start against theDetroit Pistons, going scoreless but grabbing four rebounds in 11 minutes of action.[61][62]
On April 10, 2021, Watanabe scored a then career-high 14 points coming off the bench on 6-of-7 field goal shooting and 2-of-2 from three, including abuzzer beater 3-pointer that gave the Raptors a season-high lead in a quarter with 47–26 in the first, to go along with five rebounds, an assist and a steal across 23 minutes of action in a 135–115 win over theCleveland Cavaliers.[63][64][65][66] On April 16, Watanabe surpassed his career-high in scoring for the second time in a week with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from three, along with six rebounds, two assists and one block across 26 minutes in a 113–102 win over theOrlando Magic.[67][68][69][70] On April 18, Watanabe logged his third consecutive double-digit scoring game with 10 points, shooting 3-for-6 from the field and 1-for-2 from three, in addition to four rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes off the bench in a 112–106 win over theOklahoma City Thunder. The double-digit scoring streak was the longest in his three-year NBA career.[71][72] On April 19, the Raptors announced they had converted Watanabe's two-way deal to a standard contract.[73] Despite being a two-way player, Watanabe never played in theG League with theRaptors 905.[74]
Due to a left calf sprain, Watanabe missed the first 18 games of the 2021–22 season.[75] He returned on November 24, 2021, posting three points and two blocks in 14 minutes of play against theMemphis Grizzlies.[76] On December 14, Watanabe logged his first careerdouble-double with 12 points coming off the bench on 5-of-8 field goal shooting and 2-of-4 from three and a then career-high 11 rebounds, to go along with two assists and a steal across 26 minutes of action in a 124–101 win over theSacramento Kings.[77] On December 26, Watanabe posted his second double-double with 26 points and 13 rebounds, both career-highs, in a 144–99 loss to theCleveland Cavaliers.[78][79]
On August 28, 2022, Watanabe signed with theBrooklyn Nets in free agency.[80] During November 2022, Watanabe led the NBA in three point shooting percentage at that point in the 2022–23 season.[81] Watanabe would have his best career season shooting from beyond the arc at 44.4%.[51]
On July 4, 2023, Watanabe signed with thePhoenix Suns.[82]
On February 8, 2024, Watanabe was traded back to theMemphis Grizzlies in a three-team trade involving theBrooklyn Nets.[83]
Following the conclusion of the regular season, Watanabe announced his intent to decline his player option for the following season and return to Japan to play professionally there.[84][85]
On July 11, 2024, Watanabe signed with theChiba Jets Funabashi of theB.League.[86]
TheJapan men's national basketball team's then head coachKimikazu Suzuki oversaw Watanabe's play in camps, saying at the time, "He's not good enough to be on this team yet, but eventually he's going to be [Japan's] ace player. We all know his capabilities and we intend to help him develop."[87] Later, while attending Jinsei Gakuen High School, Watanabe was called up by Suzuki to compete with the national team in 2013.[2] At the age of 18, he made his senior debut for Japan at the 2013East Asia Basketball Championship, where he helped the team win the bronze medal.[5][88] Watanabe's tournament highlights included a 22-point and 14-rebound outing in a 101–53 win overMacau.[89] At the2013 FIBA Asia Championship, he averaged 5.2 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in four games played,[90] helping the team finish in ninth place.[91] Watanabe was named to the 12-man roster for the2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where he averaged 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists.[92] At the2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Watanabe, who only played in two of 12 games, tallied an average of 17.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.[93] Later that year, he was selected to compete at the2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Watanabe played in all five games, averaging 15.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. He led the Japanese squad in points and efficiency per game.[94]
A spark-off-the-bench player,[95][96] Watanabe is known for his defensive ability. As described by sports websitetheScore, Watanabe "has great hands on the defensive end."[97] In 2019,SB Nation sportswriter Brandon Abraham lauded his defense, saying, "The Grizzlies and Hustle were simply better with Yuta on the court."[38]Memphis Grizzlies TVplay-by-play announcer Pete Pranica described his "defensive instinct" as "impressive."[38]Toronto Raptors head coachNick Nurse commented on his defense as well, saying that it "rub off on others."[59] Watanabe earned praises for his basketball IQ, with theScore commenting, "He always seems to be in the right spot on both ends of the court."[97] Pranica stated that Watanabe's IQ is one of his "greatest assets."[38]Memphis Hustle assistant coach Antoine Broxsie was also impressed by his IQ.[38] Watanabe's play has been described as "mistake-free."[59] Nurse said in multiple interviews that Watanabe "doesn’t make mistakes" during games.[59][98] Pranica also remarked that Watanabe "rarely made the same mistake twice after having been coached on it."[38] His energy and hustle has also become his defining trait in the NBA,[99] impressing Nurse and fans.[46][96] In addition, Watanabe has been praised for being constantly in motion,[98][100] which helped him to "always be a step ahead of the opposing offence" as noted by Raptors HQ of SB Nation.[100]Sports Illustrated observed that Watanabe "plays like his feet are on fire," and that he is "constantly running around, jumping in and out of attacking lanes, and wreaking havoc on opposing offences."[98] Nurse also stated that his constant motion helps the team's offence.[96] Watanabe has been criticized because of his lack of weight and muscle from his college career even until he turned professional.George Washington head coachMike Lonergan said that he hoped that he weighed over 200 pounds by the start of his sophomore season.[10]KJ Matsui commented on his frame as well, saying, "If he puts more muscles and get big, he will be unstoppable."[10] Pranica also pointed out that Watanabe "needs to get physically bigger and stronger so that he is not overmatched."[38]
Watanabe supposedly lacked panache at the time he joined the George Washington basketball program, with teammateKevin Larsen commenting, "We told him to find a new celebration because the one he had wasn't cutting it. He was, like, jumping in the air making a weird face. So we tried to help him find a new one."[10] Watanabe sometimes mimicksCarmelo Anthony, using the "three to the dome" celebration after making three-pointers.[10]
Watanabe was born on October 13, 1994, inYokohama, Kanagawa, in Japan, and grew up inMiki, Kagawa.[101] Watanabe's family has a rich history in basketball. His mother, Kumi, played for theChanson V-Magic and theJapan women's national team. His father played for theKumagai Gumi Bruins at the professional level.[5] Watanabe's sister, Yuki, played with theAisin AW Wings.[5] During his childhood, Watanabe's favorite NBA team was theLos Angeles Lakers and his favorite athlete wasKobe Bryant.[2]
On May 26, 2022, formerFuji TV announcerAkiko Kuji announced her marriage to him.[102][103]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Memphis | 15 | 0 | 11.6 | .294 | .125 | .700 | 2.1 | .5 | .3 | .1 | 2.6 |
| 2019–20 | Memphis | 18 | 0 | 5.8 | .441 | .375 | .375 | 1.1 | .3 | .3 | .1 | 2.0 |
| 2020–21 | Toronto | 50 | 4 | 14.5 | .439 | .400 | .828 | 3.2 | .8 | .5 | .4 | 4.4 |
| 2021–22 | Toronto | 38 | 4 | 11.7 | .406 | .342 | .600 | 2.4 | .6 | .3 | .4 | 4.3 |
| 2022–23 | Brooklyn | 58 | 1 | 16.0 | .491 | .444 | .723 | 2.4 | .8 | .4 | .3 | 5.6 |
| 2023–24 | Phoenix | 29 | 0 | 13.2 | .361 | .320 | .667 | 1.6 | .3 | .3 | .2 | 3.6 |
| 2023–24 | Memphis | 5 | 0 | 16.4 | .316 | .100 | .000 | 1.8 | 1.0 | .6 | .0 | 2.6 |
| Career | 213 | 9 | 13.3 | .426 | .370 | .675 | 2.3 | .6 | .4 | .3 | 4.2 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Toronto | 4 | 0 | 2.6 | .333 | .000 | — | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 |
| 2023 | Brooklyn | 1 | 0 | 4.7 | .500 | .500 | .000 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 3.0 |
| Career | 5 | 0 | 3.0 | .375 | .333 | .000 | .2 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 1.4 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | George Washington | 35 | 10 | 22.5 | .384 | .348 | .831 | 3.5 | .6 | .4 | .6 | 7.4 |
| 2015–16 | George Washington | 38 | 37 | 27.7 | .422 | .306 | .707 | 4.0 | 1.4 | .6 | 1.1 | 8.4 |
| 2016–17 | George Washington | 28 | 27 | 35.1 | .444 | .314 | .817 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 12.2 |
| 2017–18 | George Washington | 33 | 33 | 36.6 | .437 | .364 | .807 | 6.1 | 1.6 | .8 | 1.6 | 16.3 |
| Career | 134 | 107 | 30.1 | .425 | .337 | .788 | 4.5 | 1.4 | .7 | 1.1 | 10.9 | |
Free-agent forwards Alize Johnson and Yuta Watanabe have signed one-year, Exhibit-10 contracts.
Compatriot Yuta Watanabe came off the bench and scored a personal-high 12 points for the Toronto Raptors in their narrow 126-124 defeat to the Sacramento Kings. The forward's 24 minutes and 27 seconds on the court was his longest this season. The third straight defeat for the Raptors leaves them with a 7-12 record.
Watanabe's injury is a new one for the Raptors. He popped up on Toronto's injury report Wednesday with a left ankle sprain he sustains during a workout on Tuesday, Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. Watanabe was initially listed as questionable before being downgraded to doubtful and then out.
Watanabe got the start Wednesday against the Pistons, but he was ineffective, posting no points and four rebounds in 11 minutes.
Toronto notched its season high in a quarter in leading 47-26 after the first, capped by Watanabe's 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Yuta Watanabe also had a career night, coming off the bench to score a career-high 14 points, including a three to beat the buzzer at the end of the first quarter to give Toronto a 47-26 lead after one.
Watanabe was aggressive with his offense and he set his career high in scoring for the second time this week.
With Toronto using their pair of two-way slots on Watanabe, who didn't play a minute of G League basketball this year, and rookie Jalen Harris, Masai Ujiri decided to reward Watanabe's improvement by giving him a proper NBA deal.
Despite missing the first 18 games of the season due to a calf injury, the 27-year-old Japanese is currently averaging 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in the 14 games he has appeared in.
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