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Former Raptor Yuta Watanabe Plans To Return To Japan For 2024-25 Season

Originally posted on Raptors Nation | By Matthew Valento | Last updated 4/20/24

The Toronto Raptors have to do more work than most franchises when it comes to signing players.

As a small market, Toronto had to find diamonds in the rough during draft time or take chances on players in free agency.

A player that the Raptors signed was Yuta Watanabe, who went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft. But, the Memphis Grizzlies ultimately were the first team to take a chance on him.

Watanabe spent two years in Memphis and then signed with the Raptors, where he spent two seasons. He quickly earned himself the reputation of a high percentage shooter, shooting 40 percent for Toronto in the 2020-21 season.

However, since departing in 2022, Watanabe has bounced around to the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns and back to the Grizzlies. Since returning to Memphis, he missed a majority of the games due to personal reasons.

With the season being over for Memphis, Watanabe revealed on Instagram Live on April 19 that he plans on going back to Japan for the 2024-25 season, ending his NBA career:

Former Raptors shooter Yuta Watanabe via his Instagram Live just revealed his plan to go back to Japan for the 2024-25 season, ending his 6-year NBA career.
Best wishes for him! To my basketball friends in North America, please send your encouragements to Yuta!

— Takeshi Shibata (@KC_Shibata) April 20, 2024

In 88 games with the Raptors, Yuta averaged 4.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.7 assists on 42.5 percent shooting from the field and 37.3 percent from three-point land. He also got to play with some of the best players in the league in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kyrie Irving.

When looking at the totality of his career, Watanabe played 213 games, starting nine and averaged 4.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists on 42.6 percent from the field and 37 percent from deep.

Yuta Watanabe wanted to stay in Toronto

Despite playing for several teams in his six-year career, it seemed that the Raptors may have been his favorite stop. He revealed on The Raptors Show that he ultimately wanted to stay in Toronto, but unfortunately things did not work out.

This article first appeared on Raptors Nation and was syndicated with permission.

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