Memphis Grizzlies swingman Yuta Watanabe said Friday that he will play in his native Japan next season.
The 29-year-old revealed the plan in an Instagram Live after the Grizzlies missed the playoffs in his sixth NBA season, the longest stint for a Japanese player in the world’s top league.
The men’s national team star, who will participate in the Paris Olympics this summer, said the move to an as-yet-unnamed Japanese B-League franchise stemmed from a desire to play more and have more fun.
“I just want to play basketball. I want to get on the court and do what I do in practice. I’ve struggled for more than 20 years, but now I hope I can play basketball the way I like.”
Watanabe played only five games in his second stint with the Grizzlies after a midseason trade in February with the Phoenix Suns. Although injuries contributed to his time on the sidelines, Watanabe also revealed that he missed a number of games for mental health reasons. Hopefully, Yuta Watanabe can recover and play his best in Japan.
.entry-footer –>
