The new 3 pointer King: Exploits of Japan’s top shooter, Yuta Watanabe
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Yuta Watanabe (Credits: NBA)
Kevin Durant last month was sarcastically asked if he would choose Yuta Watanabe or Stephen Curry in a three-point shootout after the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Memphis Grizzlies (127-115). “For me,” he said, “Steph is God, but Yuta is nailing them right now.” Due to his recent success, Watanabe is currently the NBA’s top three-point shooter. He has shot a fantastic 24/42 (57.1%) from behind the arc so far this season. Additionally, he is particularly dangerous from the corner, shooting 87.5 percent from the left and 69.2 percent from the right.
The 6-foot-8, 28-year-old forward, Watanabe is most likely the finest Nets story thus far this year. Starting off, Durant and Kyrie Irving were surrounded by mystery. Then followed the early defeats, the point guard’s anti-Semitic incident, his comeback against the Grizzlies, the firing of coach Steve Nash, and Ben Simmons’ difficulties. The rise of the Japanese player has boosted morale.
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Yuta Watanabe: The first athlete from Japan to get an NCAA scholarship
Watanabe was the first Japanese-born basketball player to receive an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship. He was raised in a basketball-loving household and attended George Washington University. Yuta built a name for himself through his defense, for which he received several accolades. He averaged 16.3 points and 6.1 rebounds during his last collegiate season. His impressive accomplishments weren’t enough to have him picked in the 2018 draft.
He then participated in the NBA Summer League with the Nets, but the Grizzlies ultimately offered him a contract, making him the second Japanese player in the NBA after Yuta Tabuse (Suns 2004). Watanabe played in just 33 games for the NBA franchise over the course of two seasons, spending more time in the G League than with the team. The Japanese media still referred to him as “The Chosen One,” much like they did with LeBron James.
Yuta Watanabe’s professional career
Watanabe participated in the 2018 NBA Summer League for the Brooklyn Nets after going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft. He then agreed to a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Memphis Hustle, who play for them in the NBA G League.
Watanabe then signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Toronto Raptors on November 27, 2020, and he joined their preseason roster. After he made the squad out of preseason on December 19, his agreement was changed to a two-way contract. In his first game for the Toronto Raptors on December 31, Watanabe contributed four rebounds, one assist, a block, and a steal over the course of nine minutes as they defeated the New York Knicks 100-83 to earn their first victory of the year. And on August 28, 2022, Watanabe signed a free-agent contract with the Brooklyn Nets. Watanabe was the NBA’s top three-point shooter in terms of percentage in November 2022.
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