While Bol Bol takes advantage of Kevin Durant's absence to show off, Yuta Watanabe, he continues to languish on the Suns bench. Since mid-December, the Japanese has only made three appearances for a sad total of 4 points (2/7)…
“ I'm not shooting well this year, in training I'm shooting well, so I know it's a mental thing “, admits he who does not turn only 4 points on average over the season with low percentages (34.5%, including 33% at 3-points). He had never been this clumsy since his rookie season with the Grizzlies.
And why not meditation?
Worse, when he is open this season, his address percentage drops below 30%… How can we turn things around then? “ I come to the gym every day, I work on my game, that's all I have to do. Maybe I could try meditation or things like that… But I feel like being here every day, working on my game, that's the most important thing for me. »
“ Next time I take the field, I have to prove that I can still play », Adds the 29-year-old, who recalls having already experienced long periods on the bench during his first three seasons in the big league. Also admitting that one-on-one defense was an area he needed to improve, Yuta Watanabe wants to be ready when the next opportunity arises.
“ You just have to be ready no matter what. I'm a guy who accepts not taking a lot of shots. I know my role, I know how I got here, we have guys like KD (Kevin Durant, who personally recruited him), Brad (Bradley Beal), book (Devin Booker). These guys can score every day, every night, so even if I don't get a lot of contact, it doesn't bother me. But they are also excellent passers, so they will find me. »
| 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 | PHX | 22 | 16 | 34.5 | 32.9 | 69.2 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 4.2 |
| Total | 201 | 14 | 42.8 | 37.9 | 68.7 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 4.3 | |
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.
