 Watanabe with the Japan National Team in 2023. | |
| No. 18 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Small Forward / Power Forward |
| League: | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | October 13, 1994 Yokohama, Japan |
| Nationality: |  Japanese
|
| Physical stats | |
| Listed height: | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight: | 215 lbs (98 kg) |
| National Basketball Association career | |
| Debut: 2018 for the Memphis Grizzlies | |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Jinsei Gakuen High School (Zentsūji, Japan) St. Thomas More High School (Oakdale, Connecticut) |
| College: | George Washington (2014–2018) |
| NBA Draft: | 2018 / Undrafted |
| Playing career: | 2018–present (7 years) |
| Career history | |
| 2018–2020 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2018–2020 | →Memphis Hustle |
| 2020–2022 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2022 | →Raptors 905 |
| 2022–2023 | Brooklyn Nets |
| 2023–2024 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2024 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Medals | |
| Men's basketball | |
| Representing the Japan
| |
| East Asia Basketball Championship | |
 Bronze
|
2013 Incheon |
| External Links | |
| [yuta_watanabe profile] at NBA.com | |
| stats @ basketball-reference | |
Yuta Watanabe (渡邊 雄太, Watanabe Yūta, born October 13, 1994) is a Japanese professional basketball player. He played college basketball in the United States for the George Washington Colonials (now Revolutionaries), becoming the first Japanese-born student athlete to secure an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship. He was named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. He has also represented the Japan national team, helping them win the bronze medal at the 2013 East Asia Basketball Championship.