Memphis Grizzlies Logo
Yuta Watanabe Headshot

Memphis Grizzlies | #18 | Guard-Forward

Yuta

Watanabe

PPG

3.4

RPG

1.6

APG

0.4

PIE

3.0

HEIGHT

6'9" (2.06m)

WEIGHT

215lb (98kg)

COUNTRY

Japan

LAST ATTENDED

George Washington

AGE

29 years

BIRTHDATE

October 13, 1994

DRAFT

Undrafted

EXPERIENCE

5 Years

6'9" | 215lb | 29 years

DRAFT

Undrafted

BIRTHDATE

October 13, 1994

COUNTRY

Japan

LAST ATTENDED

George Washington

EXPERIENCE

5 Years

Player Bio

PROFESSIONAL CAREER

Appeared in 15 games as a reserve during his rookie season with the Memphis Grizzlies… Has averaged 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 11.6 minutes while shooting 29.4 percent from the field, 70.0 percent from the free throw line… Has officially missed 21 games as a DNP (Coach’s Decision), three games as a healthy scratch on the team’s inactive list and 43 games while on assignment to the NBA G League… Has scored in double figures once.

BEFORE NBA

Played four seasons at George Washington University (2014-18)… Appeared in 134 games (107 starts) and averaged 10.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.10 blocks in 30.1 minutes while shooting 42.5 percent from the field, 33.7 percent from three-point range and 78.8 percent from the free throw line… 2017-18 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year… Two-time A-10 All-Defensive Team (2017, 2018)… Ranks second in school history in blocks (147) and games played… Recipient of the Patricio Garino Defensive Award and Mike Brown MVP Award as a senior.

PERSONAL LIFE

Born October 13, 1994 in Kagawa, Japan… Labeled “The Chosen One” by The Japan Times, became the first Japaneseborn student-athlete to earn an NCAA Division I men’s basketball scholarship by signing with George Washington University… Became just the fourth Japanese-born student-athlete in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history… Majored in Japanese Language and Literature at George Washington… Moved to the United States in 2013 and played his lone scholastic season in the USA for St. Thomas More High School in Connecticut… Averaged 13 points and six rebounds in helping St. Thomas More to a 26-8 overall record and an appearance in the National Prep Championship game, during which he scored a team-high 25 points… His improved play throughout the season helped him earn NEPSAC Class AAA First Team All-League accolades and he was also named to the National Prep School Invitational All-Tournament Team… Before coming to the United States, led Jinsei Gakuen High School to second place in the 2010 and 2011 All-Japan Tournaments… Both of his parents played in Japan’s top leagues… His mother, Kumi, also played for the Japanese Women’s National Team… His sister, Yuki, played for Aishin AQ of the Women’s Japan Basketball League.