George Washington University Athletics
Dream Chasing
6/18/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Eric Detweiler, GW Athletics Communications
Sleep didn't come easily for Yuta Watanabe. Not that he expected it to.
The former George Washington standout counted down the days and finally the hours to his workout with the Brooklyn Nets on May 21. Understandably, he did more thinking than sleeping the night before the job interview of a lifetime.
"I was really excited and kind of nervous," Watanabe said. "That was my first one. A lot of things were going on in my mind."
With each audition before NBA personnel, Watanabe has found himself more comfortable. Traveling the globe in continued pursuit of his pro dreams, the nights became more restful and the tryouts less stressful.
Over the past month, the 6-foot-9 guard from Kagawa, Japan, has stayed busy working out for the Nets, Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. On Monday, he added the Philadelphia 76ers to the list.
Representatives from all 30 NBA teams saw him two weeks ago at the four-day NBA Global Camp in Treviso, Italy. He played before a packed crowd of league scouts during a pro day in California put together by his agency, Wasserman, as well.
Watanabe's hope is to secure a spot on an NBA summer squad, an invitation to training camp and eventually a place on a regular season roster. He's aiming to be the second native of Japan to play in the league, joining Yuta Tabuse.
"I just want to do whatever it takes to be an NBA player," Watanabe said.
Watanabe has made up for lost time after recovering from the ankle injury that knocked him out of his final game in Buff and Blue. The 2018 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year is back to full strength and building on the versatile skillset that helped him register 1,460 points, 609 rebounds and 147 blocks in 134 games over four seasons with the Colonials.
"He has a glow about him now, a confidence about him that you can really see," GW head coach Maurice Joseph said. "His range has improved. He's gotten stronger already. His ball-handling is tight right now. His game looks good. It's really encouraging to see him doing well -- and get feedback from some of these NBA teams saying the same thing."
Watanabe was off the court for roughly six weeks after spraining his ankle against Saint Louis in the A-10 Tournament on March 8. As other pro prospects were ramping up their training, he was in the middle of a patience-testing rehab.
Sometimes, he'd station a chair under the hoop and practice his shooting stroke in search of any small way to feel like he was making progress toward his goal.
On the other side, Watanabe has worked hard to get back on track. He's split his time between Foggy Bottom and Los Angeles, where he trained with other Wasserman clients, such as Kentucky's Shai Gilgous-Alexander and Tulane's Melvin Frazier.
Watanabe credits the GW staff, especially assistant coach Hajj Turner and director of player development Joe McDonald, with helping prepare him for the recent whirlwind of tryouts. They've focused on drills designed to mimic the speed and spacing of the NBA game.
"Whenever I ask them, they never say no," Watanabe said. "I'm really grateful for them."
Some tips from Tyler Cavanaugh have helped, too. Watanabe's former GW teammate went through this process last spring before earning a two-way contract with Atlanta and playing in 39 games for the Hawks as a rookie.
Through text messages and FaceTime chats, Cavanaugh has been ready with advice every step of the way about what to expect. The pair met for dinner both nights Watanabe was in Atlanta for that tryout.
Even the simplest suggestions have made a difference. Cavanaugh likes to remind Watanabe this process is more marathon than sprint.
"I'm a gym rat," Watanabe said. "I want to be in the gym, but you've got to rest, too. You're traveling a lot, and the workouts are intense, so you've got to take care of your body."
After four sterling seasons at GW, Watanabe has earned the chance to show NBA clubs what he can do.
Each individual team workout offered Watanabe a shot to compete alongside a handful of other NBA hopefuls in drills and small-sided games. ESPN's Jonathan Givony praised his performance on both ends of the floor in Italy at the combine that showcased 40 top foreign prospects.
Watanabe is doing his best to prove that he can guard three, and potentially four, positions with the shooting range and offensive feel required at the game's highest level. He's cited Utah Jazz veteran Joe Ingles as the NBA player whose game fits what he wants to be.
That's a difficult challenge that's far from over, but he wants to make sure to enjoy the ride, too.
"It's a great opportunity," Watanabe said. "It's hard work, but this is a process that everybody goes through. I'm really grateful for this type of opportunity because not many get it."
