Yuta "The Shooter" Watanabe Appreciation Thread

MrDollarBills · Post #1 » by **MrDollarBills** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 4:46 pm

I love this kid. He plays hard every game, he's efficient and doesn't try to do too much outside of his role. He's always smiling, always cheering everyone on, and the team loves him.

Let's use this thread to track his progress.

His contract needs to be guaranteed.

Stone · Post #2 » by **Stone** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 10:23 pm

I keep forgetting he is not on a guaranteed contract.

He could be the next unpolished gem a la Joey Buckets that Marks brought back from the brink.

We don't win last nights game against the Raptors without Yuta's 17. His steal against Fred VV was another big moment in the game.

MrDollarBills · Post #3 » by **MrDollarBills** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 11:10 pm

Stone wrote:I keep forgetting he is not on a guaranteed contract.

He could be the next unpolished gem a la Joey Buckets that Marks brought back from the brink.

We don't win last nights game against the Raptors without Yuta's 17. His steal against Fred VV was another big moment in the game.

Absolutely.

He made multiple defensive plays. Dude is definitely the kind of 3/4 hybrid we've been wanting.

MrDollarBills · Post #4 » by **MrDollarBills** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 11:16 pm

Read on Twitter

?t=PTxfs93AY5jpGeJXBep7cQ&s=19

The SHOOTER.

Rastas · Post #5 » by **Rastas** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:20 pm

Been the 4th or 5th most valuable Net so far this season, that's with a bunch of missed games.
Hope Marks has a rewarding contract for Yuta.

gigantes · Post #6 » by **gigantes** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 9:31 pm

It's always great to see a 'middle-aged' player (he just turned 28yo, in fact) break through to a new level. Especially when it's down to stuff like hard work, being coachable, and improved technique. At least, that's usually how it works from what I've observed.

Before this season, I see that the most burn he'd ever gotten was 14.5mpg in TOR, who let him shoot 1.8 threes/game, which he did at a 40% clip. You'd think a good shooter and hustle guy would have had their role expanded, but instead they cut his minutes down next season and sure enough, his efficiency went down. Then again, injuries might have hurt. I don't think he's ever had a major one, though.

His bball lineage is pretty cool, too:

Wikipedia wrote:Watanabe was born on October 13, 1994, in Yokohama, Kanagawa, and grew up in Miki, Kagawa.

Watanabe's family has a rich history in basketball. His mother, Kumi, played for the Chanson V-Magic and the Japan women's national team.

His father played for the Kumagai Gumi Bruins at the professional level.

Watanabe's sister, Yuki, played with the Aisin AW Wings.

MrDollarBills · Post #7 » by **MrDollarBills** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 10:16 pm

gigantes wrote:It's always great to see a 'middle-aged' player (he just turned 28yo, in fact) break through to a new level. Especially when it's down to stuff like hard work, being coachable, and improved technique. At least, that's usually how it works from what I've observed.

Before this season, I see that the most burn he'd ever gotten was 14.5mpg in TOR, who let him shoot 1.8 threes/game, which he did at a 40% clip. You'd think a good shooter and hustle guy would have had their role expanded, but instead they cut his minutes down next season and sure enough, his efficiency went down. Then again, injuries might have hurt. I don't think he's ever had a major one, though.

His bball lineage is pretty cool, too:
Wikipedia wrote:Watanabe was born on October 13, 1994, in Yokohama, Kanagawa, and grew up in Miki, Kagawa.

Watanabe's family has a rich history in basketball. His mother, Kumi, played for the Chanson V-Magic and the Japan women's national team.

His father played for the Kumagai Gumi Bruins at the professional level.

Watanabe's sister, Yuki, played with the Aisin AW Wings.

That's awesome, he was a born hooper.

Papi_swav · Post #8 » by **Papi_swav** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 4:19 am

Love this kid ! His energy and his happiness of being in the NBA and on this team is nothing like it, you can tell he's very appreciative of being here and he works hard. I was reading somewhere that he has a HUGEEE following from his Japanese ppl and they are big Nets fans now as well, and they follow all of his games. That's pretty awesome to have a whole country behind you . I hope we sign him for more years and hope he has a nice career.

ecuhus1981 · Post #9 » by **ecuhus1981** » Wed Dec 21, 2022 4:51 am

Yuta has been the best bargain basement free agency signing, for anyone around the league. He's so freaking good, and his playing style complements stars beautifully.

Gooner · Post #10 » by **Gooner** » Wed Dec 21, 2022 9:28 am

Papi_swav wrote:Love this kid ! His energy and his happiness of being in the NBA and on this team is nothing like it, you can tell he's very appreciative of being here and he works hard. I was reading somewhere that he has a HUGEEE following from his Japanese ppl and they are big Nets fans now as well, and they follow all of his games. That's pretty awesome to have a whole country behind you . I hope we sign him for more years and hope he has a nice career.

Especially a big country like that.

Rastas · Post #11 » by **Rastas** » Wed Dec 21, 2022 1:17 pm

ecuhus1981 wrote:Yuta has been the best bargain basement free agency signing, for anyone around the league. He's so freaking good, and his playing style complements stars beautifully.

Got to give credit to Marks here, also his other bargain recruits in Warren and Sumner are showing good value at their pay rates.

MrDollarBills · Post #12 » by **MrDollarBills** » Wed Dec 21, 2022 2:01 pm

Can Yuta be paid and extended already? Make this place this man's NBA home.

ecuhus1981 · Post #13 » by **ecuhus1981** » Sun Dec 25, 2022 6:29 pm

MrDollarBills wrote:Can Yuta be paid and extended already? Make this place this man's NBA home.

He's not extension eligible since he only signed a 1-year deal. Even if it were multi-year, I think you have to wait 365 days before you can extend.

He's playing his way into a nice next contract. I agree, I hope we keep him. :pray:

MrDollarBills · Post #14 » by **MrDollarBills** » Fri Dec 30, 2022 4:37 pm

Yuta The Shooter is getting 3 point contest buzz.

I'd love for the Nets to dominate all star weekend.

Stone · Post #15 » by **Stone** » Mon Jan 2, 2023 2:44 pm

More media buzz for Yuta.

https://nypost.com/2023/01/01/yuta-watanabe-keeps-on-doing-everything-for-the-nets/

Yeah, obviously they start taking away my three's, so I've got to find other ways to finish and I think I've improved in that I can drive and then I can finish.

MrDollarBills · Post #16 » by **MrDollarBills** » Mon Jan 2, 2023 3:41 pm

Stone wrote:More media buzz for Yuta.

https://nypost.com/2023/01/01/yuta-watanabe-keeps-on-doing-everything-for-the-nets/

Yeah, obviously they start taking away my three's, so I've got to find other ways to finish and I think I've improved in that I can drive and then I can finish.

Yuta needs to start driving more on those close outs.