Chiba Jets Funabashi Co., Ltd.
Announcement of Yuta Watanabe joining the Chiba Jets
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Chiba Jets Funabashi would like to inform you that we have reached a basic agreement on the player contract of Yuta Watanabe for the Torosona Group B.LEAGUE 2024-25 season.
[Image: https://prtimes.jp/i/35649/120/resize/d35649-120-dd72b8424a11413850c1-0.jpg&s3=35649-120-4034952ba629984f01adf304a2e464cd-1920×1080.jpg] Yuta Watanabe graduated from Jinsei Gakuen High School in 2013, went to St. Thomas More School, and then went to George Washington University (USA) in the NCAA Division 1. After graduating from the same school, he signed a contract with the NBA Memphis Grizzlies in 2018, becoming the second Japanese player to appear on the court in the NBA. After that, amidst the fierce competition for roster spots, he played an active role in the NBA for 6 seasons with 4 teams, and announced that he would return to Japan and play in the B League from the 2024-25 season. After negotiations, we have concluded a contract with the Chiba Jets.
【profile】
■Player name: Yuta Watanabe
■Unit number: 1
■Position: SF/PF
■Date of birth: October 13, 1994
■Birthplace: Kagawa Prefecture
■Alma mater: George Washington University (USA)
■Height/Weight: 206cm/98kg
■Nationality: Japan
■Career: 2018-20 Memphis Grizzlies (2018-20 Memphis Hustle)
2020-22 Toronto Raptors (2020-21 Raptors 905)
2022-23 Brooklyn Nets
2023-24 Phoenix Suns / Memphis Grizzlies
■Representative career: 2011 William Jones Cup
2013 3rd East Asian Basketball Championship
2013 27th FIBA Asian Men’s Basketball Championship
2016 31st Olympic Games (Rio de Janeiro) World Final Qualification 2018 FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asia 2nd Qualifier
2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 (China)
2021 32nd Olympic Games (Tokyo)
2022 FIBA Asia Cup 2022
2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 (Japan, Philippines, Indonesia)