Following an offseason move to the Phoenix Suns, set to be his fourth NBA team in six seasons, forward Yuta Watanabe is preparing to lead co-host Japan at the FIBA Basketball World Cup tipping off Aug. 25.
The sharp-shooting 28-year-old swingman recently sat down with Takehiko Inoue, creator of the iconic basketball manga series Slam Dunk, to talk about the comic, his NBA career, and the upcoming World Cup.
First published in 1990, Slam Dunk is one of Japan's most beloved manga series, spawning multiple animated adaptations including the hit movie The First Slam Dunk, released last December.
Watanabe counts himself among the devotees of the manga, which is credited with raising the popularity of basketball in Japan.
Watanabe: I'm a huge fan. I used to read it regularly enough that I could remember every single phrase from every player. The movie was seriously fun too. There was so much attention paid to tiny details. It really felt as if I was watching a basketball game.
Inoue: I'm glad to hear. I wanted it to get people who play basketball on the edge of their seats and I'm relieved to hear these words from an NBA player.
In the 2022-23 NBA season, Watanabe averaged 16 minutes, 5.6 points and 44.4 percent from three-point range, all career highs, as a member of a playoff-bound Brooklyn Nets side that made headlines by trading away superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving before the midseason trade deadline.
Watanabe will once again play alongside Durant in Phoenix with the Suns, who have signaled their championship aspirations following a change of ownership.
Watanabe: It (2022-23) definitely was a breakthrough season for me. I never had the chance to play important minutes in previous seasons. This past season, I was getting court time late in games where we were separated by a point or two, and there were actually times when I was able to hit game-winning shots. I felt I was being counted as an option for the first time.
Inoue: You have achieved things no Japanese player had done before, one after another, but this season was amazing. It really fired me up. I was getting excited all the way through. I could see you winning the trust of Kevin Durant and other superstars. That's amazing too.
The midseason departures of Durant and Irving completely transformed the Nets, with Watanabe subsequently spending more time on the bench. The drop in minutes did not dent his confidence, however.
Watanabe: I really had a sense that I was performing well this season, so I was unexpectedly calm. The roster changed after the trade and given the team policy, I had no illusions and accepted that my minutes would go down.
Inoue: You felt it wasn't because of your performance?
Watanabe: To be honest, I was confident I could contribute if my minutes went back up.
After going undrafted, Watanabe needed to work hard to carve out an NBA career, including spending time on two-way contracts that saw him go back and forth between the NBA and the developmental G-League. He says he can only stay in the NBA with more hard work.
Watanabe: Having watched many players over the past five years, the bottom line is whether you are putting in the effort. I don't have any special ability (for an NBA player) and because of that, I have to focus on that aspect."
Inoue: I'm extremely moved (to see Japanese players performing well in the NBA). It's beyond imagination and my emotions can't catch up."
Japan is co-hosting the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup with the Philippines and Indonesia. All of Japan's group-stage games will take place at Okinawa Arena, where the 36th-ranked host will face world No. 11 Germany, No. 24 Finland and No. 3 Australia in a difficult Group E.
Watanabe: Basketball's popularity in Japan could get a big boost, or it could stagnate a bit again. I personally feel a sense of responsibility for it.
We definitely don't have a height or strength advantage so we have to raise the tempo of the game, and it will depend on hitting a high percentage from three-point range. If we can score at a high rate, we can have close matches.
Inoue: Any specific targets from head coach Tom Hovasse for the World Cup?
Watanabe: The head coach is aiming for us to finish highest among Asian teams to earn an automatic spot for the Paris Olympics.
Inoue: I hope it happens. I want Japan to surprise the people watching. Hovasse's basketball is really fun and I'm sure there will be more fans of his team. The transitions are fast and it feels good seeing one three-pointer drop after another. I think children can really identify with seeing a team with small players beating bigger opponents.
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Basketball: Suns' Yuta Watanabe joins Japan teammates in World Cup camp
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