Watanabe agreed Wednesday to a contract with the Chiba Jets of the Japanese B.League, Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com reports. The terms of Watanabe's deal aren't clear, but he should immediately become one of the B.League's top players after spending parts of the last six seasons in the NBA with the Grizzlies, Raptors, Nets and Suns. The 29-year-old forward appeared in 34 games for Phoenix in 2023-24 and averaged 3.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.7 three-pointers in 13.6 minutes but didn't make an appearance for Memphis after being sent to the Grizzlies in February on a deadline deal. Watanabe holds a $2.65 million player option for 2024-25, but he'll presumably decline that to facilitate his return to his home country of Japan. He's also expected to suit up for the Japanese national team during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
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Status
ACTIVEPrevious game (vs. Trail Blazers 3/1)
Latest Yuta Watanabe news
2023-24 Season Stats
Yuta Watanabe Career Stats
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Career Averages
PTSREBASTBLKSTL4.22.30.60.30.4Year GP GS MIN PTS REB AST BLK STL TO DD2 TD3 3PM 3PA 3P% 2PM 2PA 2P% FGM FGA FG% FTM FTA FT% OREB DREB PF A/TO +/- TS% 2023-24 34 0 13.6 3.4 1.6 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.6 0 0 0.7 2.5 29.4% 0.5 0.9 51.6% 1.2 3.4 35.3% 0.3 0.5 58.8% 0.3 1.3 1.1 0.8 -66 47.4% 2022-23 58 1 16.0 5.6 2.4 0.8 0.3 0.4 0.4 0 0 1.0 2.3 44.4% 0.9 1.7 55.7% 2.0 4.0 49.1% 0.6 0.8 72.3% 0.5 1.9 1.4 2.2 -7 63.7% 2021-22 38 4 11.7 4.3 2.4 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.5 2 0 0.7 2.1 34.2% 0.8 1.6 49.2% 1.5 3.6 40.6% 0.6 1.1 60.0% 0.5 1.9 1.0 1.1 -51 52.4% 2020-21 50 4 14.5 4.4 3.2 0.8 0.4 0.5 0.4 0 0 0.7 1.8 40.0% 0.9 1.8 47.8% 1.6 3.6 43.9% 0.5 0.6 82.8% 0.7 2.5 1.1 2.1 -40 56.5% 2019-20 18 0 5.8 2.0 1.1 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.1 0 0 0.2 0.4 37.5% 0.7 1.4 46.2% 0.8 1.9 44.1% 0.2 0.4 37.5% 0.4 0.7 0.5 2.5 +10 48.0% 2018-19 15 0 11.6 2.6 2.1 0.5 0.1 0.3 0.4 0 0 0.1 1.1 12.5% 0.9 2.3 37.1% 1.0 3.4 29.4% 0.5 0.7 70.0% 0.3 1.8 0.7 1.3 +20 35.2% Career 213913.34.22.30.60.30.40.4200.71.937.0%0.81.649.4%1.53.542.6%0.50.767.5%0.51.81.11.6-13454.7% -
Career Averages
PTSREBASTBLKSTL1.40.20.00.00.0Year GP GS MIN PTS REB AST BLK STL TO DD2 TD3 3PM 3PA 3P% 2PM 2PA 2P% FGM FGA FG% FTM FTA FT% OREB DREB PF A/TO +/- TS% 2022-23 1 0 5.0 3.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0 0 1.0 2.0 50.0% 0.0 0.0 0.0% 1.0 2.0 50.0% 0.0 2.0 0.0% 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 -4 52.1% 2021-22 4 0 2.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0 0 0.0 0.3 0.0% 0.5 1.3 40.0% 0.5 1.5 33.3% 0.0 0.0 0.0% 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -9 33.3% Career 503.01.40.20.00.00.00.4000.20.633.3%0.41.040.0%0.61.637.5%0.00.40.0%0.00.20.00.0-1339.4%
Yuta Watanabe Season Stats 2023-24
Previous Game (vs. Trail Blazers 3/1)
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2023-24 Stats
GPMINPTSREBASTTOPF3413.63.41.60.40.61.12023-24 Rebounding
REBDREBOREB1.61.30.32023-24 Defensive
BLKSTL0.20.42023-24 Shooting
FG%2P%3P%FT%TS%35.3%51.6%29.4%58.8%47.4%2023-24 Advanced
+/-A/TOTD3DD2-660.800
Yuta Watanabe Game Log 2023-24
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Regular SeasonDateOppResultMINPTSREBASTBLKSTLTO3PA3PM3P%2PA2PM2P%FGAFGMFG%FTAFTMFT%OREBDREBA/TO+/-PFPERTS%3/1L 122-9217010012000.0%100.0%100.0%200.0%010.0-20250.0%2/28L 110-1017012000100.0%000.0%100.0%000.0%010.0-1110.0%2/26L 111-8621241000100.0%2150.0%3133.3%000.0%040.0-61533.3%2/15W 113-11011011000100.0%100.0%200.0%000.0%010.0-2010.0%2/12L 96-872511210217114.3%5480.0%12541.7%000.0%021.0-11645.8%2/6W 114-1060000000000.0%000.0%000.0%000.0%000.0-3000.0%2/4W 140-11277000212150.0%22100.0%4375.0%000.0%000.0-10687.5%1/31W 136-1201000000000.0%000.0%000.0%000.0%000.0+0000.0%1/24W 132-1097220000000.0%11100.0%11100.0%000.0%020.0-513100.0%1/11W 127-1094010001000.0%000.0%000.0%000.0%010.0-7110.0%1/8L 138-1115100000200.0%000.0%200.0%2150.0%000.0-31217.4%1/5W 113-978210000100.0%2150.0%3133.3%000.0%100.0-70233.3%1/1W 109-885200000100.0%11100.0%2150.0%000.0%000.0-50150.0%12/27W 129-1131000000000.0%100.0%100.0%000.0%000.0-2020.0%12/22L 120-10511220000300.0%11100.0%4125.0%000.0%020.0+52125.0%12/15L 139-1227000000000.0%000.0%000.0%000.0%000.0+0000.0%12/13L 116-1127010000200.0%000.0%200.0%000.0%100.0-13230.0%12/12W 119-116193111114125.0%000.0%4125.0%000.0%011.0+112137.5%12/8L 114-106239210008337.5%000.0%8337.5%000.0%020.0-130756.3%12/2W 116-109154200122150.0%000.0%2150.0%2150.0%110.0+33169.4%11/29L 112-10515110211300.0%200.0%500.0%2150.0%100.0+4028.5%11/26W 116-113147000004250.0%000.0%4250.0%2150.0%000.0+51471.7%11/17W 131-128103200002150.0%100.0%3133.3%000.0%110.0+21250.0%11/15W 133-115223231004125.0%200.0%6116.7%000.0%020.0-11225.0%11/12L 111-991760200022100.0%000.0%22100.0%000.0%000.0+1017150.0%11/10L 122-119143100003133.3%100.0%4125.0%000.0%100.0+65437.5%11/8W 116-115176501035240.0%000.0%5240.0%000.0%050.0-112460.0%11/5W 120-106206100023133.3%11100.0%4250.0%11100.0%010.0+131367.6%11/4L 112-100225500114125.0%000.0%4125.0%22100.0%320.0-132751.2%11/2L 132-12126341000400.0%11100.0%5120.0%2150.0%040.0+01325.5%10/31L 115-1141911320127342.9%11100.0%8450.0%000.0%121.0-611068.8%10/28W 126-104207401204125.0%3133.3%7228.6%22100.0%130.0+22844.4%10/26L 100-951431000111100.0%100.0%2150.0%000.0%010.0-142075.0%10/24W 108-104178401014250.0%11100.0%5360.0%000.0%040.0+72980.0%
Regular Season Totals 13.73.41.60.40.20.40.62.50.729.4%0.90.551.6%3.41.235.3%0.50.358.8%0.31.30.8-661.13.547.4%
Yuta Watanabe Player Profile
Career History
Yuta Watanabe Fantasy Projections
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Yuta Watanabe Latest News
Finds opportunity in Japan
Watanabe agreed Wednesday to a contract with the Chiba Jets of the Japanese B.League, Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com reports. The terms of Watanabe's deal aren't clear, but he should immediately become one of the B.League's top players after spending parts of the last six seasons in the NBA with the Grizzlies, Raptors, Nets and Suns. The 29-year-old forward appeared in 34 games for Phoenix in 2023-24 and averaged 3.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.7 three-pointers in 13.6 minutes but didn't make an appearance for Memphis after being sent to the Grizzlies in February on a deadline deal. Watanabe holds a $2.65 million player option for 2024-25, but he'll presumably decline that to facilitate his return to his home country of Japan. He's also expected to suit up for the Japanese national team during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Leaving NBA
Watanabe (personal) is not expected to pick up his $2.6 million player option this offseason, but rather head to the Japan professional basketball league, Keith Smith of Spotrac.com reports. Watanabe announced the news during an Instagram Live session. Assuming he does not ultimately return to the NBA, the six-year veteran will bookend his career with stints in Memphis. Although, he only played five games for the team this year, as most of his season was spent in Phoenix. His most productive tenure came with the Nets during the 2022-23 season, where the forward averaged 5.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 triples across 16.0 minutes per game.
Ruled out for season finale
Watanabe (personal) is out for Sunday's game against the Nuggets. Watanabe missed the Grizzlies' final 22 games of the season due to a personal problem. He ended the season with averages of 3.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game across 34 appearances between the Suns and Grizzlies.
Out once again Friday
Watanabe (personal) is out for Friday's game against the Lakers. This is Watanabe's 21st straight absence, and it's highly unlikely that he'll suit up for the season finale against the Nuggets on Sunday.
Still sidelined
Watanabe (personal) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Cavaliers. Watanabe's absence streak will extend to 20 games Wednesday. He has only two more chances to suit up this season -- Friday versus the Lakers and Sunday against the Nuggets.
Remains sidelined
Watanabe (personal) has been ruled out for Tuesday's matchup against the Spurs. Watanabe hasn't played since March 1. It's unclear if he'll be able to play again this season.
To miss another game
Watanabe (personal) will not play in Saturday's matchup with the 76ers. Watanabe will now miss his 18th straight game. There is no word from the team on any sort of immediate return at this point. Still, his next chance to do so, would be Tuesday versus the Spurs.
Out once again
Watanabe (personal) is out for Friday's game against the Pistons. Including Friday's contest, Watanabe has now missed 17 games in a row, and it doesn't seem likely that he'll return to action before the end of the regular season. His next chance to play will come against the 76ers on Saturday in the second half of a back-to-back set.
Remains out
Watanabe (personal) is out for Wednesday's game against the Bucks. Watanabe is set to miss a 16th straight game, and there's no apparent reason why he's out other than it being a personal matter. As such, his next chance to feature will come against Detroit on Friday, but it wouldn't be shocking if he ends up being ruled out for the rest of the season sooner rather than later.