” I’m not going to lie. There was a time when I thought maybe I didn’t belong in this league. » Yuta Watanabe is lucid: emerging within the Great League took him time. ” My family, my friends, my teammates and the staff have always encouraged me to keep my head up. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for these people I’ve met on my journey », continues the Japanese, questioned by Hoopshype.
Undrafted in 2018, he made his Memphis debut without showing much for two seasons. He had been more involved by Nick Nurse in his rotation, the next two years in Toronto.
” Defensively, I always thought Toronto was okay. There was a time when I was getting playing time through my defense, but my offense was a problem. I was so inconsistent with my 3-point shot (note: 37% all the same). I knew if I could shoot with confidence and consistency I could get more minutes. That’s what I do now. I shoot very well now, but I can’t forget that I started playing minutes thanks to my defense, my energy, my work ethic and my passion. “, Displays the 28-year-old player.
Beneficiary of superstars
The latter is aware of having crossed ” many hardships since his arrival. Whether with the Grizzlies or the Raptors, he very rarely had the opportunity to have responsibilities and a constant place in a rotation, or even to start.
” I was on a non-guaranteed contract, and this year I am again. Even though I don’t play, I never took it for granted. It doesn’t matter if I’m the 13th, 14th or 15th player and don’t have game time “, he expresses, in reference to his attitude of encouragement towards his teammates.
The person concerned is in the process of changing status. At the Nets, where he averages 8 points in 18 minutes, he emerges as an important element for his energy and defensive seriousness. And especially for its long distance address. With 57% 3-point success, he is quite simply the best shooter in the league right now.
” This is madness. I always knew I could shoot, but 57%? It’s impossible. I don’t expect to maintain this percentage but I will continue to shoot with confidence. If I shoot well, it’s thanks to KD (Kevin Durant)Well (Simons) and Kyrie (Irving). I play with these great players. They get doubled all the time so I’m always open, and my job is to get in those open shots “, ends the left-hander who fully fulfills his mission so far.
| Yuta Watanabe | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2018-19 | SAME | 15 | 12 | 29.4 | 12.5 | 70.0 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.6 |
| 2019-20 | SAME | 18 | 6 | 44.1 | 37.5 | 37.5 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2.0 |
| 2020-21 | TOR | 50 | 15 | 43.9 | 40.0 | 82.8 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 4.4 |
| 2021-22 | TOR | 38 | 12 | 40.6 | 34.2 | 60.0 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 4.3 |
| 2022-23 | BRK | 14 | 18 | 60.9 | 57.1 | 66.7 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 8.1 |
| Total | 135 | 13 | 43.9 | 39.1 | 66.7 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 4.2 | |
