"I would say interest is still very high," said Daisuke Sugiura, a freelance Japanese journalist who has followed Watanabe this season. "During the 2018-19 NBA season, NBA League Pass registered a 10% growth in Japanese subscribers, according to the league, and the Grizzlies came in third in overall merchandise popularity, finishing behind the Lakers and Warriors.All this for a player who averaged 11.6 minutes in 15 NBA outings.But Watanabe is growing accustomed to the spotlight, even though it runs counter to his naturally shy, respectful demeanor. The Grizzlies have already gotten a good evaluation of Watanabe in the summer league, as he's averaged 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game across four appearances.Watanabe put together a strong showing for the second time in as many summer league contests, and he's now averaging 13.5 points (on 50.0 percent shooting), 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists across his first two games in Las Vegas.
When the Memphis Hustle gathered for a team-building outing before the season, it finally struck Brad Jones just how significant his responsibility would be.Jones felt an obligation to develop all the players he worked with in his first season as the Hustle's coach, but this preseason event cemented the increased level of duty he felt to one player in particular.As the Hustle set out on a late-October team hayride, a brigade of camera-wielding media members chased them on foot in an effort to get pictures of Yuta Watanabe.“That showed the magnitude," Jones said. So they’re on their cameras like running behind the hayride following us. Memphis Grizzlies forward Yuta Watanabe brought the Grizzlies to Japan and became an inspiration during the 2018-19 NBA season
Team: Memphis Grizzlies. So I hope that's happening right now. It's unclear how long he'll remain out, but Josh Jackson, Jarrod Uthoff, Dusty Hannahs and Matt Mooney could all pick up some extra scoring opportunities while Watanabe is sidelined.Over his 13 outings in the G League this season, the two-way player is averaging 16.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 triples, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals in 34.6 minutes per game. It was amazing.”Watanabe played the 2018-19 season on a two-way contract with the Grizzlies and became the first Japanese player since the 2004-05 season and only the second ever to appear in an NBA game. "When I was a little kid, I watched Yuta Tabuse play in an NBA game," Watanabe said. But I am here. "These people were literally following us around, and there was not room for them on the hayride. "The most important thing is to stay healthy, eat well, eat healthy, sleep well and being in the weight room," Watanabe said. Through five games this season, Watanabe is averaging 15.1 points on 51.6 percent shooting along with 7.0 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.0 blocks and 0.8 assists.Watanabe launched 10 three-pointers, hitting four of them during his team-high 37 minutes Monday.
"People said I was not going to do it. My mom was almost crying.