Like fellow Japanese import Rui Hachimura, Yuta Watanabe became an NBA star after making his way to the league.
Yuta Watanabe, a Japanese professional basketball player with the Brooklyn Nets, is a defensive connoisseur.
Watanabe is the first person of Japanese ancestry to get a Division I basketball scholarship from the NCAA. Additionally, he was honored as the conference’s defensive player of the year for the Atlantic 10.
His tenacity, effort, and basketball IQ stand out in games. Watanabe has received high marks for his mobility and constant presence on both ends of the game.
Learn fascinating details about Yuta Watanabe, a Japanese professional basketball player. Check out the illustrated quick facts first.
Quick Facts
|
Full Name |
Yuta Watanabe |
|
Birth Date |
October 13, 1994 |
|
Birth Place |
Yokohama, Japan |
|
Nick Name |
The Chosen One |
|
Religion |
Unknown |
|
Nationality |
Japanese |
|
Ethnicity |
Asian |
|
High School |
|
|
College |
George Washington (2014–2018) |
|
Horoscope |
Libra |
|
Father’s Name |
Hideyuki Watanabe |
|
Mother’s Name |
Kumi Kubota |
|
Siblings |
Yuki Watanabe (Sister) |
|
Age |
28 Years Old |
|
Height |
6’9”/2.03 m/203 cm |
|
Weight |
98 Kg/215 lb. |
|
League |
NBA |
|
Hair Color |
Black |
|
Eye Color |
Brown |
|
Body Type |
Athletic |
|
Profession |
NBA Player |
|
Professional Career Teams |
|
|
Draft In |
2018/Undrafted |
|
Jersey No. |
18 (For Toronto Raptors) |
|
Active Years in Basketball |
2018-Present |
|
Sexual Orientation |
Straight |
|
Marital Status |
Engaged (May 26, 2022) |
|
Girlfriend |
Akiko Kuji |
|
Kids |
No |
|
Net Worth |
Between $1 Million-$5 Million |
|
Position |
Small Forward/Power Forward |
|
Social Media |
|
|
Merch |
Early Life & Family
Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, is the place of birth for the Japanese defensive dynamo Watanabe. Watanabe was a local boy from Miki, Kagawa. Yuta is a Japanese national and an Asian by ancestry.
Basketball runs deep in his blood. Kumi Kubota, his mother, was a professional basketball player for the Chanson V-Magic and the Japanese national team.
Hideyuki Watanabe Sr. also was a professional baseball player with the Kumagai Gumi Bruins. Yuki Watanabe was a former member of the Aisin AW Wings.
After a long and successful basketball career, his sister transitioned into coaching in 2018, primarily working with the junior high school squad.
Growing up, he cheered for the Los Angeles Lakers and idolized Kobe Bryant.
Age, Height & Weight
Watanabe is 28, having entered this world on October 13, 1994.
He stands at 2.03 meters tall and weighs around 215 pounds. Watanabe has kept up his strength and athleticism.
Basketball Career
High School Career
Yuta Watanabe decided to attend high school in Kagawa, and he chose Jinsei Gakuen. Watanabe’s basketball team finished in second place at the All Japan High School Tournament.
In basketball, he averaged 13 points and six rebounds per game in 2013 while attending St. Thomas More Preparatory High School in Oakdale, Connecticut.
He contributed to the team’s success as they went on to triumph in the National Prep Championship and finish with a record of 26-8.
Watanabe played in his first National Prep School Invitational game in January 2014, scoring 12 points against Suffield Academy. Similarly, in a 70-61 victory over Spain’s Canarias Basketball Academy, he scored 20 points and grabbed six boards.
He was selected to the All-Tournament Team at the National Prep School Invitational. He was also named to the All-League First Team in Class AAA for the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council.
He was also named “the Chosen One” by The Japan Times.
So, ESPN Recruiting Nation gave Watanabe a 77-valued three-star ranking, and Scout.com gave him the same grade.
College Career
Watanabe enrolled at George Washington University as a first-year student (2014).
Watanabe made history when he was awarded a Division I basketball scholarship as the first Japanese-born athlete in the history of the NCAA.
The Washington Post and the New York Times ran features on him once he enrolled at George Washington.
Watanabe made his first collegiate appearance for George Washington in a game against Grambling State in November of 2014, playing 20 minutes and contributing eight points, seven rebounds, and a block. The 92-40 victory was the team’s most impressive since 1999.
As a result of his performance in the 2014 Diamond Head Classic championship game, when he averaged 9.0 points and 4.7 rebounds, Watanabe was awarded Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week in December 2014.
On March 7 against Massachusetts, Yuta scored a career-high 21 points, including a season-high seven 3-pointers. Watanabe also received his second Rookie of the Week award from the Atlantic 10.
This made him the only Rookie to win Rookie of the Week more than once in a season since Lasan Kromah in 2009-2010 when he won three times.
Junior Team
Watanabe recorded his first double-double in a 77-75 victory over Siena in November 2016.
In addition, he averaged 12.2 points per game to become George Washington’s second-leading scorer. Because of this, he was selected for the All-Defense Team in the Atlantic 10.
Senior Team
In a game against Rider in November 2017, Yuta Watanabe had 13 rebounds, a new personal best.
On November 29, he set a new personal best with five steals against Morgan State. The last game was a 72-56 victory over Fordham, with Watanabe scoring a career-high 31 points.
As a result, he received recognition as the best defender in the Atlantic 10. He made history by becoming the first colonial to take home the prize.
In addition, he was named the Atlantic 10’s defensive player of the year and to the conference’s all-third team.
In conclusion, Watanabe had an outstanding career at George Washington, where he was recognized and rewarded for his efforts.
Professional Career
Memphis Grizzlies
Watanabe, undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, participated in the NBA Summer League with the Brooklyn Nets.
A two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies followed. In his season debut against the Phoenix Suns in October 2018, he came off the bench to average 2 points and two rebounds.
As a result, he followed Yuta Tabuse as the second Japanese player to suit up for an NBA team. In addition, Watanabe spent most of the season playing for the Memphis Hustles of the G League.
Watanabe played in all 33 games of the 2020-21 NBA G League season, averaging 14.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 assists per game.
Watanabe led the Memphis Hustle to a 130-126 win over the Iowa Wolves in January of 2020, with a game-high 28 points on 12-of-19 shooting from the field, and 2-of-4 from outside the arc to go along with seven boards, four blocks, two assists, and two steals.
As a result, Watanabe received Western Conference Midseason All-NBA G League honors.
Toronto Raptors
On December 19, 2020, Watanabe signed a deal with the Raptors to help fill out their preseason roster.
On December 31, in his first game with the Toronto Raptors, they beat the New York Knicks, and he contributed four rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal in nine minutes of action.
Then, against the Sacramento Kings in January of 2021, he scored 12 points off the bench while shooting 80.0 percent from the floor, adding six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
He hurt his left ankle while working out on February 9, 2021. On February 18, he played against the Milwaukee Bucks after missing four games due to injury.
Watanabe’s 21 points in a 113-102 win over the Orlando Magic in April 2021 were a career-best. He shot 7-of-11 from the field and 2-of-4 from deep.
Watanabe was out for roughly 18 games this year because of a sprained left calf. He returned in 14 minutes of action against the Memphis Grizzlies, scoring three points and blocking two shots.
His double-double against the Cleveland Cavaliers in December 2021 included 26 points and 13 rebounds.
National Team Career
At only 18 years old, Yuta Watanabe helped lead Japan to a bronze medal in the 2013 East Asia Basketball Championship, in which he made his senior team debut.
At that moment, he had led his team to a 101-53 victory over Macau on the strength of 22 points and 14 rebounds.
Similarly, he helped them finish in ninth place in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship by playing in four games and averaging 5.2 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists.
Therefore, Watanabe was included in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament’s 12-man roster, contributing 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists.
So, he’ll attend the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2019. On average, he scored 15.6 points per contest and added 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
Achievements and Awards
The Japanese player has accomplished the following:
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Winner of the A-10 Defensive MVP Award (2018)
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Atlantic 10 Third Team Honoree (2018)
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All-Defensive Team selection for two years in a row by the Atlantic 10 (2017, 2018)
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In the 2013 edition of the East Asian Basketball Championship, the men’s team placed third.
Engaged for Akiko Kuji
Akiko Kuji is Yuta Watanabe’s fiancee. After meeting for the first time at the 2019 Basketball World Cup, the two decided to be engaged on May 26, 2022.
Japanese announcer, model, tarento, and actor Akiko Kuji was born on July 13, 1994, in Ōshū, Iwate, Japan.
She lived in Iwate Prefecture for 18 years, attending schools there until she earned degrees in economics from Mizusawa High School and Aoyama Gakuin University.
After breaking into the business, Akiko was chosen to represent the Asahi Kasei Group as their 2014 campaign model. In July of that year, she made her acting debut on television in the drama “Kin Kyori Renai: Season Zero.”
From 2014 to April 2017, she modeled exclusively for non-no magazines. She started working as an announcer for Fuji Television in April 2017, and she stayed there until April 30, 2022, when she decided to become independent.
On May 1, 2022, Akiko signed again with the modeling and acting agency Incent to resume her career.
Yuta’s Match Video Breaks Internet Records!
Yuta Watanabe became an internet sensation during the Nets’ 116-125 loss to the Pacers on October 29, 2022.
The Pacers scored two points because of his incorrect dunk, which cost his team the game.
Watanabe accepted his error and apologized to his squad and coach despite the humiliation of the situation.
His coach and teammates lauded his effort and enthusiasm, even if the Nets ultimately fell short. He promised himself that he would grow from the ordeal and go on.
Trivia
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Yuta enjoys various media, especially books, music, and Naruto and Dragon Ball Z anime series.
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In an interview with The Athletics in April of 2021, Kevin Durant praised Watanabe for his versatility, work ethic, and natural ability.
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In 2022, Watanabe’s jersey outsold those of Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Rui Hachimura in Japan.
Social Media Presence
Yuta Watanabe, a phenomenal basketball player, has amassed a large fan base online.
That means the date of the count is March 2023.
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Instagram: 414K Followers
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Facebook: 15K Followers
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Twitter: 232.7K Followers
Yuta often provides well-crafted subtitles that reflect on many aspects of his life.
In his most recent entry, he expressed appreciation to his parents and noted how he could remain composed and peaceful in adversity.
Salary and Net Worth
As of 2023, one of the most well-known basketball players, Yuta Watanabe, has a net worth of between $1 and $5 million.
On August 28, 2022, Yuta signed a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with the Nets after participating in the team’s preseason on Exhibit 9 contract.
He will earn $1,968,175 each year on an unguaranteed contract that will cost his team $1,836,090 (1.48 percent of the total salary cap) to carry.
His predicted pay for the next year, 2020/21, is also $1,762,796. His previous salary with the Grizzlies for 2019-20 was $79,568.
Who is Akiko Kuji?
Akiko Kuji was born on July 13, 1994, in Iwate Prefecture.
She’s one of the top models working today. She is one of the most well-known individuals in history that share her birthday (July 13). She hails from Iwate Prefecture, where she became one of the world’s highest-paid models. She is also one of the world’s top fashion models.
Quick Facts
|
First Name |
Akiko |
|
Last Name |
Kuji |
|
Profession |
Fashion Model |
|
Age |
25 years old |
|
Birth Sign |
Cancer |
|
Birth Date |
July 13, 1994 |
|
Birth Place |
Iwate Prefecture |
|
Country |
Japan |
|
Marital Status |
Engaged |
|
Fiancee |
Yuta Watanabe |
|
Career |
Host, Model, Tarento, and Actress |
|
Net Worth |
$1-5 million |
Career
Japanese announcer, model, tarento, and actor Akiko, lived in Iwate Prefecture for 18 years, attending schools there until she earned degrees in economics from Mizusawa High School and Aoyama Gakuin University.
After breaking into the business, Akiko was chosen to represent the Asahi Kasei Group as their 2014 campaign model. In July of that year, she made her acting debut on television in the drama “Kin Kyori Renai: Season Zero.”
From 2014 to April 2017, she modeled exclusively for non-no magazines. She started working as an announcer for Fuji Television in April 2017, and she stayed there until April 30, 2022, when she decided to become independent.
On May 1, 2022, Akiko signed again with the modeling and acting agency Incent to resume her career.
Relationship Status
Akiko Kuji is Yuta Watanabe’s fiancee. After meeting for the first time at the 2019 Basketball World Cup, the two decided to be engaged on May 26, 2022.
Akiko Kuji Net Worth
Wikipedia, Forbes, IMDb, and other online sites estimate that Akiko Kuji, a prominent fashion model, has a net worth of $1-5 million. She was a successful fashion model and deserved the pay. They say she’s an Iwate native.
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