George Washington University Athletics
Watanabe Readies for NBA Restart
7/30/2020 7:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Men's basketball alumnus is with Memphis Grizzlies in NBA bubble
Away from the basketball court, life inside the NBA bubble at the Walt Disney World complex with the Memphis Grizzlies has been rather uneventful for Yuta Watanabe.
"I just hang out with my teammates," said Watanabe, a GW men's basketball alumnus in his second season on a two-way contract with the Grizzlies. "I haven't done anything really fun. I know some guys go fishing or play golf, but I don't really stuff like that, so I haven't done much since I got here."
On the court, Watanabe has been savoring every minute over the past three weeks in Orlando, Fla. After a four-month break amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the 6-foot-8 swingman is glad to be part of the postseason push with the Grizzlies, who kick off their schedule of eight seeding games on Friday at 4 p.m. vs. the Portland Trail Blazers.
"It's really exciting," Watanabe said. "The last few months, that was really tough. I couldn't even go to the gym and get my shots up or anything. This is great to just play basketball and compete again."
The second native of Japan to play in the NBA, Watanabe earned this opportunity after a fantastic career at GW in which he finished with 1,460 points (14th in program history), 156 3-pointers (seventh) and 147 blocks (second) in 134 games (second). He helped the Colonials to win the 2016 NIT Championship as a sophomore and closed out his run in Buff and Blue by earning A-10 Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference Third Team honors in 2017-18.
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Watanabe was amid a solid second pro season when play was halted in early March, showcasing the continued progress that marked his time in Foggy Bottom as he blossomed
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Over 22 G League contests with the Memphis Hustle, Watanabe averaged a career-high 17.2 points per game on 54.2 percent shooting from the field. In February, he earned Midseason All-League recognition.
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He'd seen action in 16 games with the Grizzlies, including seven of the final eight contests before the season was suspended.
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In his second season shuttling between the clubs, he'd grown more comfortable with a role that requires adaptability and a dose of humility.
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"It's really challenging," said Watanabe, whose top NBA offensive effort of the season came on Feb. 7 in Philadelphia when he scored nine points in 12 minutes. "Even the day before, I don't know what my schedule is going to be. It's going to change depending on if people got hurt or people are sick, so you just have to be ready for whatever comes."
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Just like that, the pandemic paused the season, and Watanabe was stuck at home like everybody else.
Watanabe did his best to stay ready, utilizing an exercise bike and weights provided by the Grizzlies. He passed the newfound free time calling friends back in Japan and catching up with former teammates like Tyler Cavanaugh and Jaren Sina.
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"It was good to talk to a lot of guys that I haven't talked to in a while," Watanabe said.
Now, Watanabe is back doing what he loves most. He had expected to spend the summer representing his native Japan on home soil at the Tokyo Games, but with the Olympics postponed until next year, he is instead chasing an NBA title.
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Entering the restart, the Grizzlies (32-33) hold the eighth and final position in the Western Conference playoffs with a 3.5 game lead over three teams tied for ninth place, and Watanabe is ready to help however he can while gaining more experience in a unique learning environment.
"Just being with those guys always gives me a lot of motivation and makes me get better," Watanabe said. "We have a lot of young guys, but they're very professional, and I've learned a lot from them. Just to practice with them or be around them, there's always stuff to learn."
As the NBA resumes, a worldwide spotlight will be on Orlando, and Watanabe is proud to rep the Buff and Blue on this unprecedented stage.
"The four years at GW were really great," Watanabe said. "I'm really glad that I went to GW and met a lot of great people who really helped me. I'm grateful that I'm representing GW right now, and I feel like I'm making them proud."
"I just hang out with my teammates," said Watanabe, a GW men's basketball alumnus in his second season on a two-way contract with the Grizzlies. "I haven't done anything really fun. I know some guys go fishing or play golf, but I don't really stuff like that, so I haven't done much since I got here."
On the court, Watanabe has been savoring every minute over the past three weeks in Orlando, Fla. After a four-month break amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the 6-foot-8 swingman is glad to be part of the postseason push with the Grizzlies, who kick off their schedule of eight seeding games on Friday at 4 p.m. vs. the Portland Trail Blazers.
"It's really exciting," Watanabe said. "The last few months, that was really tough. I couldn't even go to the gym and get my shots up or anything. This is great to just play basketball and compete again."
The second native of Japan to play in the NBA, Watanabe earned this opportunity after a fantastic career at GW in which he finished with 1,460 points (14th in program history), 156 3-pointers (seventh) and 147 blocks (second) in 134 games (second). He helped the Colonials to win the 2016 NIT Championship as a sophomore and closed out his run in Buff and Blue by earning A-10 Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference Third Team honors in 2017-18.
Â
Watanabe was amid a solid second pro season when play was halted in early March, showcasing the continued progress that marked his time in Foggy Bottom as he blossomed
Â
Over 22 G League contests with the Memphis Hustle, Watanabe averaged a career-high 17.2 points per game on 54.2 percent shooting from the field. In February, he earned Midseason All-League recognition.
Â
He'd seen action in 16 games with the Grizzlies, including seven of the final eight contests before the season was suspended.
Â
In his second season shuttling between the clubs, he'd grown more comfortable with a role that requires adaptability and a dose of humility.
Â
"It's really challenging," said Watanabe, whose top NBA offensive effort of the season came on Feb. 7 in Philadelphia when he scored nine points in 12 minutes. "Even the day before, I don't know what my schedule is going to be. It's going to change depending on if people got hurt or people are sick, so you just have to be ready for whatever comes."
Â
Just like that, the pandemic paused the season, and Watanabe was stuck at home like everybody else.
Watanabe did his best to stay ready, utilizing an exercise bike and weights provided by the Grizzlies. He passed the newfound free time calling friends back in Japan and catching up with former teammates like Tyler Cavanaugh and Jaren Sina.
Â
"It was good to talk to a lot of guys that I haven't talked to in a while," Watanabe said.
Now, Watanabe is back doing what he loves most. He had expected to spend the summer representing his native Japan on home soil at the Tokyo Games, but with the Olympics postponed until next year, he is instead chasing an NBA title.
Â
Entering the restart, the Grizzlies (32-33) hold the eighth and final position in the Western Conference playoffs with a 3.5 game lead over three teams tied for ninth place, and Watanabe is ready to help however he can while gaining more experience in a unique learning environment.
"Just being with those guys always gives me a lot of motivation and makes me get better," Watanabe said. "We have a lot of young guys, but they're very professional, and I've learned a lot from them. Just to practice with them or be around them, there's always stuff to learn."
As the NBA resumes, a worldwide spotlight will be on Orlando, and Watanabe is proud to rep the Buff and Blue on this unprecedented stage.
"The four years at GW were really great," Watanabe said. "I'm really glad that I went to GW and met a lot of great people who really helped me. I'm grateful that I'm representing GW right now, and I feel like I'm making them proud."
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