Watanabe Becomes First Japanese Player in NBA

Yuta Watanabe made history on July 25 when he signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies becoming the first Japanese player to ink an NBA deal.

The 23-year-old Watanabe joins a small but growing group of Asian players in the league. He follows in the footsteps of Chinese players Yao Ming and Wang ZhiZhi, who were both drafted in the first round in 2002, as well as Yi Jianlian of China, who was selected sixth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2007.

“It feels great,” Watanabe told reporters after signing his contract. “I never thought I would be here, so it’s a great accomplishment.”

Watanabe had been playing professionally in Japan since 2013 and spent last season with the Tokyo Alvark of the Japanese B.League. He averaged 11.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in 2017-2018.

“Yuta Watanabe is a player we have tracked for some time,” Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. “He is long, athletic and has shown steady improvement as a professional over his five seasons playing against top competition in Japan.”

Watanabe will split time between Memphis and their G League affiliate, the Iowa Energy.

Watanabe’s Journey to the NBA

Yuta Watanabe makes history as the first Japanese player to sign an NBA Contract committing to the Memphis Grizzlies on a two-way deal

The 23-year-old forward/center has spent the last two seasons with the Tokyo Cinq Rêves of the Japan B. League, averaging 11.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 55 games last season. He also played for Japan at the 2018 Asian Games helping his country to a fourth-place finish.

“I am very excited and honored to be the first Japanese player in NBA history ” Watanabe said in a statement released by the Grizzlies. “I will do everything I can to help my team win, and to make all of Japan proud.”

Watanabe will join fellow countryman Rui Hachimura, who was drafted ninth overall by the Washington Wizards in 2019, as the only Japanese players currently in the NBA.

Watanabe’s NBA Debut

On November 10, 2018, Yuta Watanabe became the first Japanese-born player to appear in an NBA regular season game. The 23-year-old rookie made his debut with the Memphis Grizzlies in a 111-104 home loss to the Indiana Pacers scoring two points in three minutes of action.

Watanabe was born and raised in Tokyo, and played college basketball at George Washington University in the United States He went undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft but caught the attention of NBA scouts with his performances for the Japanese national team at the 2018 FIBA World Cup and for his club team, the Ryukyu Golden Kings of the Japanese B.League. He signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies in July 2018.

In Watanabe’s first NBA game he became the second Japanese player to appear in an NBA regular season game joining current Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach Tyronn Lue, who played two games for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1997-98 season.

Watanabe’s NBA Career

Yuta Watanabe became the first Japanese player in the NBA when he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2018. Watanabe played two seasons with the Grizzlies, averaging 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in 68 games.

Watanabe was born and raised in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. He began playing basketball at a young age and went on to play for the Japanese National Team at the 2014 Fiba Basketball World Cup Watanabe then played four seasons of college basketball at George Washington University in the United States

Watanabe went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft but was later signed by the Grizzlies. He made his Nba Debut on October 17, 2018, becoming the first Japanese player to ever play in the NBA. Watanabe spent two seasons with the Grizzlies before signing with the Toronto Raptors in 2020.

Watanabe’s Impact on Japanese Basketball

Yuta Watanabe became the first Japanese player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) when he signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2018. Prior to Watanabe’s signing, no Japanese player had ever played in the NBA. Although Watanabe is not yet a star player his mere presence in the league is having a significant impact on Japanese basketball

Since Watanabe joined the NBA, there has been a surge of interest in basketball among young people in Japan. The number of children playing basketball has increased dramatically, and the sport is now being taken more seriously at the High School and university levels. This increased interest is unlikely to abate anytime soon, as Watanabe is still early in his career and has yet to reach his full potential.

It is hoped that Watanabe’s success will inspire more Japanese players to pursue careers in the NBA. In addition to increasing the level of competition within Japanese basketball this would also help to increase the visibility of the sport globally. As such, Watanabe’s impact on Japanese basketball is likely to be felt for many years to come.

Watanabe’s Legacy

A few weeks ago, Yuta Watanabe made history by becoming the first Japanese player to sign an NBA contract, inking a two-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies Standing at 6’9″, the 23-year-old swingman from Osaka joins a growing list of International Players making the jump to the world’s Premier Basketball league.

Watanabe’s signing is a landmark moment not just for Japanese basketball but for the sport in Asia as a whole. For years, the NBA has been working to grow its presence in Asia, and Watanabe’s signing will no doubt help in that efforts. In addition to Watanabe, there are currently 11 other Asian players in the NBA, including All-Star center Yao Ming of China and reigning Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon of the Milwaukee Bucks

The 23-year-old’s story is an inspirational one. After going undrafted out of George Washington University in 2018, Watanabe spent last season playing for the G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers, where he averaged 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game He also had stints with Japanese B. League teamsTokyo Cinq Rêves and Sunrockers Shibuya before finally catching his big break with the Grizzlies.

While it remains to be seen how much playing time Watanabe will get with his new team, there is no doubt that he has already made history and inspired a new generation of Asian basketball players with his journey to the NBA.

The Future of Japanese Basketball

With Yuta Watanabe signing a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies he has become the first Japanese player in the NBA.

This is a significant moment not only for Watanabe but also for Japanese basketball. For years, the sport has been overshadowed by its more popular counterpart, baseball. But with Watanabe’s signing, it seems that basketball is finally starting to get the attention it deserves in Japan.

This could be just the beginning for Japanese basketball. With more and more young players starting to dream of playing in the NBA, it seems likely that we will see even more Japanese players making their way to the league in the years to come.

Only time will tell what the future holds for Japanese basketball, but one thing is for sure: Yuta Watanabe’s signing is a watershed moment for the sport in Japan.

Watanabe’s Return to Japan

Watanabe made his return to Japan on Tuesday, nearly two years after he was first drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies He played in just two games for the Grizzlies, both during the Summer League before being waived in October. He spent the next few months training in California before finally returning to his home country.

Watanabe’s NBA All-Star game Appearance

In February, Rui Hachimura made history when he became the first Japanese player to be selected for an NBA All-Star Game This past weekend, another Japanese player made history when Yuta Watanabe became the first Japanese player to appear in an NBA game

Watanabe, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies made his debut on Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves He entered the game in the fourth quarter and played two minutes. He did not score but had one rebound.

Watanabe is just the second Japanese player to make it to the NBA. The other is Yuta Tabuse, who played four games for the Phoenix Suns in 2004.

Watanabe’s Retirement from the NBA

In March of 2019, Watanabe announced his retirement from the NBA, citing family reasons. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in February of 2019 and was set to become a free agent at the end of the season.

Watanabe Becomes First Japanese Player in NBA