Former Nets fan favorite set to make historic move overseas

A former fan favorite of the Brooklyn Nets is taking his talents abroad and is leaving the NBA. According to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews, Yuta Watanabe is anticipated to sign a contract with the Chiba Jets of the Professional Basketball League of Japan after turning down his $2.6 million player option with the Memphis Grizzlies for 2024–2025.
Born and bred in Japan, Watanabe attended George Washington University for four seasons as a student-athlete. In 2018, the 6-foot-9 forward was not picked. He did, however, carve out a long NBA career, participating in 213 games over six seasons. The only other Japanese players to participate in numerous seasons of the association are Watanabe and Rui Hachimura.
Watanabe had the finest season of his career after seeing little action in his first four seasons with the Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors.

Following Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns in free agency the next offseason, Watanabe signed a two-year minimum contract with the team since the Nets were focused on developing their young players. Midway through the season, the 29-year-old lost his spot in the rotation despite playing a reliable role early on.
As part of a three-team trade that netted them Royce O’Neale from the Nets, Phoenix traded him to Memphis at the deadline. During his tenure with the Suns, he averaged 3.6 points and 1.6 rebounds while shooting 32.0 percent from three different field goal attempts and 36 percent overall.
In April, Watanabe declared in an Instagram live that he planned to visit his native Japan in the upcoming year. Now, he will be the main attraction in the nation’s cup.