George Washington University Athletics
Photo by: Raptors.com
Watanabe Signs Standard NBA Contract with Raptors
4/19/2021 12:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
WASHINGTON - After spending the last three seasons on a two-way contract, GW men's basketball alumnus Yuta Watanabe has signed a standard NBA deal with the Toronto Raptors, the team announced on Monday.
The standard NBA contract secures Watanabe's roster spot with Toronto compared to the two-way deal that he had previously signed, which allowed him to play for the Raptors or their G League franchise.
The signing comes on the heels of three straight double-digit games for Watanabe, including a career-high 21 point performance off the bench on 7-of-11 shooting in a win on Friday vs. Orlando. He is averaging 14.0 ppg on 60.9% shooting over his last three appearances, all Raptor wins.
Watanabe has become a regular part of the Toronto rotation this month, averaging nearly 20 minutes a contest while scoring 8.7 points per night. He previously spent two years on a two-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies before signing a two-way contract with the Raptors this offseason.
In 39 games this year, he is averaging 4.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 13.4 mpg while shooting 44.8% from the field and 40% from 3-point range.
Watanabe is the first Colonial with a fully guaranteed NBA contract since Tyler Cavanaugh signed a multi-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks in 2017.
Earned, not given. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/n3BKP7oBdR
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 19, 2021
The standard NBA contract secures Watanabe's roster spot with Toronto compared to the two-way deal that he had previously signed, which allowed him to play for the Raptors or their G League franchise.
The signing comes on the heels of three straight double-digit games for Watanabe, including a career-high 21 point performance off the bench on 7-of-11 shooting in a win on Friday vs. Orlando. He is averaging 14.0 ppg on 60.9% shooting over his last three appearances, all Raptor wins.
Watanabe has become a regular part of the Toronto rotation this month, averaging nearly 20 minutes a contest while scoring 8.7 points per night. He previously spent two years on a two-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies before signing a two-way contract with the Raptors this offseason.
In 39 games this year, he is averaging 4.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 13.4 mpg while shooting 44.8% from the field and 40% from 3-point range.
#WeTheNorth | @wacchi1013 pic.twitter.com/SAf5CdXxXq
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 17, 2021
Watanabe is the first Colonial with a fully guaranteed NBA contract since Tyler Cavanaugh signed a multi-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks in 2017.
Players Mentioned
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