At 29 years old, Yuta Watanabe has decided to leave the NBA, even though he has a “player option” of $2.7 million for next season. He will therefore leave the Grizzlies, where he will have only played five games.
“I just want to play basketball. I want to come in and do what I'm working on in training.” he explained. “I hung on while I was in my 20s, but now I hope to play basketball the way I want to play. The level of Japanese basketball is increasing and I want to play matches where there is great intensity.”
Return to Japan after the Olympics
Tired of playing utility in the NBA, when he seemed to have found his role with the Nets, and Kevin Durant had recruited him to the Suns, he was notably traded during the campaign by Phoenix…
“I found things difficult…” he detailed, plagued by mental health concerns in Tennessee. “In my 20s, my goal was to work in America, no matter the situation. Never give up, no matter what. It was fun at times, but it was also a lot of work. »
According to BasketNewshe is in any case about to sign with the Chiba Jets, one of the biggest B.League clubs, with four finals since the creation of the league in 2016, and one title (2021).
But before returning home to compete in the local championship, Yuta Watanabe will be at the Paris Olympics with Japan, his country being in Group B, that of France, Germany and the winner of the Riga TQO.
| Yuta Watanabe | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 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 | 58 | 16 | 49.1 | 44.4 | 72.3 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 5.6 |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 34 | 14 | 35.3 | 29.4 | 58.8 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 3.4 |
| 2023-24 * | PHX | 29 | 13 | 36.1 | 32.0 | 66.7 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 3.6 |
| 2023-24 * | SAME | 5 | 16 | 31.6 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 2.6 |
| Total | 213 | 13 | 42.6 | 37.0 | 67.5 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 4.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
