<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-japan-fiba-world-cup-olympics');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Yuta Watanabe reacts to Japan’s Olympic berth');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/watanabe.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Yuta Watanabe reacts to Japan’s Olympic berth</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-09-03T17:39:24-07:00">September 3rd, 5:39pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-09-03T17:39:24-07:00">September 3rd, 5:39pm</time><address><a>Trevor Booth</a>Trevor Booth is a beat writer covering the Phoenix Suns, in addition to working as an associate editor. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports journalism from Arizona State University in 2021. Booth is passionate about his faith, video games, sports with friends and making the most of his time with his girlfriend when he's not working.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Phoenix Suns forward Yuta Watanabe and Japan qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris with the best record of FIBA Asia teams in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.</p><p>Watanabe and Japan won three games; one in group play against Finland and then two versus Venezuela and Cape Verde. Japan won qualification for the Olympics for the first time since 1976 (they were hosts of the 2020 Olympics and automatically qualified).</p><p>Watanabe, who is the only NBA player on Japan’s roster, exceeded 20 points three times in the tournament. He finished with averages of 14.8 points and 6.2 rebounds.</p><p>Here is how he reacted to Japan’s Olympic berth. Via Suns on X:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"This means a lot to us. I'm very proud of us."</p><p>🗣️ <a href="https://twitter.com/wacchi1013?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wacchi1013</a> on Japan qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games! 🇯🇵</p><p>🎥: NBA Asia <a href="https://t.co/UjNhvpFQ5L">pic.twitter.com/UjNhvpFQ5L</a></p><p>— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) <a href="https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1698058361168949567?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“This means a lot to us,” Watanabe said. “It’s the first time in like 40-some years, 48? 48 years. You know, we made history. This is the first time we beat [a] European team in the World Cup (Finland).</p><p>“…So, this means a lot to us. I’m very proud of us.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="ja">こんな大口たたいといて実はめちゃくちゃ不安でした。みんなに本当に助けられた。<br>死ぬまで代表でいつづけます。今後も応援お願いします！！！ <a href="https://t.co/3qjWGixeEn">https://t.co/3qjWGixeEn</a></p><p>— Yuta Watanabe 渡邊 雄太 (@wacchi1013) <a href="https://twitter.com/wacchi1013/status/1697986148684243233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Watanabe played through a lower leg/ankle injury throughout the tournament. He will now turn his focus to the Suns’ regular season, in which he is expected to be a key piece for a championship team.</p><p>Watanabe <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-free-agency-analysis-yuta-watanabe" rel="noopener">signed</a> a two-year minimum deal with the Suns in free agency. He shot 44.4 percent (60-of-135) from 3-point range in 2022-23, including over 50 percent on corner attempts.</p><p>Watanabe played with Suns forward Kevin Durant with the Brooklyn Nets before he was traded. Durant assisted Watanabe 14 times this past season.</p><p>Watanabe had at least two blocks in four of Japan’s five games in the World Cup. The Suns are coached by Frank Vogel, who helped lead teams to the top defensive rating three times as coach.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Yuta Watanabe reacts to Japan’s Olympic berth

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-japan-cape-verde-olympics-qualification');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Yuta Watanabe, Japan qualify for 2024 Olympics with Cape Verde win');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/yuta.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Yuta Watanabe, Japan qualify for 2024 Olympics with Cape Verde win</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-09-02T11:04:47-07:00">September 2nd, 11:04am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-09-02T11:04:47-07:00">September 2nd, 11:04am</time><address><a>Trevor Booth</a>Trevor Booth is a beat writer covering the Phoenix Suns, in addition to working as an associate editor. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports journalism from Arizona State University in 2021. Booth is passionate about his faith, video games, sports with friends and making the most of his time with his girlfriend when he's not working.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Phoenix Suns forward Yuta Watanabe and the Japan national team <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1697958529322393893" rel="noopener">clinched a spot</a> at the 2024 Olympics in Paris with their 80-71 win over Cape Verde in the FIBA World Cup Saturday morning. Japan finished with the best record of the FIBA Asia teams in the tournament (China, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and the Philippines) with three wins and took the automatic berth for the continent.</p><p>Japan won qualification for the Olympics for the first time since 1976. It automatically qualified as hosts in 2020 (the Olympics were played in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).</p><p>Watanabe and Japan are hosts for the FIBA World Cup and got to celebrate in front of fans. Here was their reaction after the victory:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yuta Watanabe gets emotional as Japan defeats Cape Verde and clinches a spot for the 2024 Olympics in Paris 🇯🇵 🔥<a href="https://t.co/kK7MJXxHcT">pic.twitter.com/kK7MJXxHcT</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1697958529322393893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Japan is going to the 2024 Olympics!</p><p>An emotional Yuta Watanabe celebrates with his teammates. 🥹</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBAWC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIBAWC</a>) <a href="https://t.co/CbxdtMz5bh">pic.twitter.com/CbxdtMz5bh</a></p><p>— Booker Muse (@DevinBookerMuse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DevinBookerMuse/status/1698012602083999855?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="ja">まじでさいこーのチーム</p><p>パリ行くぞーーーーーーーーー！！！ <a href="https://t.co/4qTZOnqVNz">pic.twitter.com/4qTZOnqVNz</a></p><p>— Yuta Watanabe 渡邊 雄太 (@wacchi1013) <a href="https://twitter.com/wacchi1013/status/1697978059968942480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Watanabe, who is the only NBA player on Japan’s roster, played all 40 minutes in Saturday’s game and finished with five points on 2-of-11 shooting, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Watanabe and Japan did not advance out of group play into the second round of the World Cup, so their run is over.</p><p>Watanabe exceeded 20 points three times in the FIBA World Cup. He played the tournament through an apparent ankle injury he suffered in a game against Angola this past month.</p><p>Watanabe, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-free-agency-analysis-yuta-watanabe" rel="noopener">who signed</a> a two-year deal with the Suns in free agency, will turn his attention to the team’s preparation for the season. Phoenix’s first preseason game is Oct. 8 against the Detroit Pistons.</p><p>Watanabe is expected to be a top bench piece for the Suns. He shot 44.1 percent from 3-point range this past season with the Brooklyn Nets and shot over 50 percent on corner threes.</p><p>Watanabe was teammates with Suns forward Kevin Durant in Brooklyn before he was traded. Durant assisted Watanabe 14 times this past season and praised his game.</p><p>“He’s going to be one of those people that’s highly, if we (the Nets) don’t lock him down, a lot of people are going to want him,” Durant said.</p><p>Phoenix could fill its roster with only minimum contracts since it has four players on max deals: Durant; guards Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, who was acquired from the Washington Wizards via trade; and center Deandre Ayton.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Yuta Watanabe, Japan qualify for 2024 Olympics with Cape Verde win

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-japan-fiba-world-cup-olympics-venezuela');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Yuta Watanabe, Japan keep 2024 Olympic berth goal alive');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/watanabe.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Yuta Watanabe, Japan keep 2024 Olympic berth goal alive</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-08-31T08:10:31-07:00">August 31st, 8:10am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-08-31T08:10:31-07:00">August 31st, 8:10am</time><address><a>Trevor Booth</a>Trevor Booth is a beat writer covering the Phoenix Suns, in addition to working as an associate editor. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports journalism from Arizona State University in 2021. Booth is passionate about his faith, video games, sports with friends and making the most of his time with his girlfriend when he's not working.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Phoenix Suns forward Yuta Watanabe and Japan <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-japan-fiba-world-cup" rel="noopener">were knocked out</a> of contention from the FIBA World Cup Tuesday with a loss to Australia. But he and the national team still have something to play for.</p><p>Watanabe and Japan defeated Venezuela Thursday morning, 86-77, to keep their chances of advancing to the 2024 Olympics in Paris alive. Watanabe finished with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting, eight rebounds and two blocks for Japan, which went on a 26-9 run late in the game to finish a comeback win.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yuta Watanabe showed out with 21 PTS and 8 REB as Japan picked up the W over Venezuela 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAWC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAWC</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinForAll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WinForAll</a> <a href="https://t.co/OjOnuAHdoy">pic.twitter.com/OjOnuAHdoy</a></p><p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1697263853393088903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Japan can advance to the Olympics if it has the best record out of the FIBA Asia teams in the World Cup. The others — China, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and the Philippines — currently have a worse record than Japan, which is the only country in that bunch to have two World Cup wins.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-record-straight-ankle-injury-fiba-world-cup-japan" rel="noopener">Watanabe and Japan</a> can lock a spot in the Olympics if they win Saturday’s game against Cape Verde.</p><p>Watanabe has starred in international play. He exceeded 20 points for the third time in the FIBA World Cup and also had two blocks for the third time.</p><p>In four combined World Cup games, Watanabe has averaged 17.3 points on 48.1 percent shooting (34.5 percent from 3-point range), 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.</p><p>Watanabe signed a two-year contract with the Suns in free agency and figures to be an important piece. He is known as a prolific 3-point shooter and in 2022-23 shot 44.4 percent from distance, including over 50 percent in the corner.</p><p>Watanabe played with Suns forward Kevin Durant with the Brooklyn Nets this past season. He was assisted by Durant 14 times.</p><p>Watanabe is expected to be a key bench piece for the Suns. He is showing in international play he can be a player that can help a team contending for a championship.</p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Yuta Watanabe, Japan keep 2024 Olympic berth goal alive

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-yuta-watanabes-strong-olympics-message-to-japan-after-fiba-world-cup-exit');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns F Yuta Watanabe’s strong Olympics message to Japan after FIBA World Cup exit');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Yuta-Watanabe-Suns-FIBA-World-Cup-Japan.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns F Yuta Watanabe’s strong Olympics message to Japan after FIBA World Cup exit</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-08-29T20:45:03-07:00">August 29th, 8:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-08-29T20:45:51-07:00">August 29th, 8:45pm</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>A Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, Rex claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Japan are out of the running for the 2023 FIBA World Cup championship, as they finished third in Group D — behind Germany and Australia. However, Japan main man and Phoenix Suns forward Yuta Watanabe shows that <i>Aka-tsuki Faibu</i> is not going to just take their foot off the pedal just because they failed to make it past the first round.</p><p><i>“<a href="https://twitter.com/wacchi1013/status/1696669846258561250" rel="noopener">Still got two more game</a>s that we must win to get a ticket to Paris Olympic. Let’s keep fighting Japan,”</i> Yuta Watanabe posted on X (formerly Twitter) following his impressive effort, albeit in a loss to Josh Giddey and the Australians on Tuesday in Okinawa.</p><p>Despite crashing out of title contention in the World Cup, there is still a lot to play for Japan. After all, an Olympic spot in the 2024 Paris Games is reserved for the top-finishing Asian team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. So far, Japan are leading in that department, thanks to their stunning upset victory over Finland last Sunday. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/fiba-world-cup-news-lakers-rui-hachimura-reacts-japans-massive-upset-finland" rel="noopener">Japanese took down Finland</a> to the tune of a 98-88 score, despite Watanabe playing poorly, scoring just four points on 1-for-6 shooting from the field and 2-for-4 from the free-throw line. He did bounce back strongly right away, as Watanabe scored 24 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and shot 7-for-13 from the field in the loss to Australia.</p><p>Watanabe’s role on Team Japan is much larger than the one he’s going to have with the Suns in the coming 2023-24 NBA season, so he’s certainly <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-hints-bombshell-japan-decision-fiba-world-cup" rel="noopener">relishing the opportunity</a> to play big minutes while representing his country in the biggest international basketball tournament.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns F Yuta Watanabe’s strong Olympics message to Japan after FIBA World Cup exit

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-japan-fiba-world-cup');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Yuta Watanabe’s run with Japan in FIBA World Cup ends with unfortunate foul');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/yuta-4.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Yuta Watanabe’s run with Japan in FIBA World Cup ends with unfortunate foul</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-08-29T08:37:15-07:00">August 29th, 8:37am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-08-29T08:37:15-07:00">August 29th, 8:37am</time><address><a>Trevor Booth</a>Trevor Booth is a beat writer covering the Phoenix Suns, in addition to working as an associate editor. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports journalism from Arizona State University in 2021. Booth is passionate about his faith, video games, sports with friends and making the most of his time with his girlfriend when he's not working.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Phoenix Suns forward Yuta Watanabe and Japan were eliminated from FIBA World Cup contention following their 109-89 loss to Australia Tuesday morning.</p><p>Watanabe, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-free-agency-analysis-yuta-watanabe" rel="noopener">who signed</a> a two-year deal with the Suns in free agency, finished with 24 points on 7-of-13 shooting, seven rebounds and one block. He fouled out of the game due to an intentional foul against former Brooklyn Nets teammate Patty Mills.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Phoenix Suns forward Yuta Watanabe fouled out with 24 points for Japan in loss to Australia, 109-89, in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAWC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAWC</a> .</p><p>Japan eliminated from World Cup. <a href="https://t.co/odUJOTtJqp">pic.twitter.com/odUJOTtJqp</a></p><p>— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) <a href="https://twitter.com/DuaneRankin/status/1696541237686436192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Watanabe and Japan <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/how-to-qualify-basketball-paris-2024-qualification-system" rel="noopener">appear to have a chance</a> to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics in a future pre-qualifying tournament.</p><p>Mills, who now plays for the Atlanta Hawks and NBA players Josh Giddey (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Josh Green (Dallas Mavericks, former University of Arizona player) starred for Australia. Giddey had 26 points and 11 assists in the win, and Green had 15 points and four steals. Mills had 11 points and nine assists.</p><p>Watanabe seemed to deal with an ankle injury throughout the tournament. He <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-record-straight-ankle-injury-fiba-world-cup-japan" rel="noopener">said in a post</a> on X he suffered an injury in a game earlier this month versus Angola and again versus Germany in Japan’s first World Cup game.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="ja">あと自分の足の事で、もう休んでとか来シーズンに集中してとかちょくちょく言われるんですが、アンゴラ戦やドイツ戦で痛めたとこはちゃんと検査して、重傷ではないのを確認して出場してます。本当にだめな時は出ないですし、僕が出ると言ってもトレーナー陣やチームドクターからストップがかかるので</p><p>— Yuta Watanabe 渡邊 雄太 (@wacchi1013) <a href="https://twitter.com/wacchi1013/status/1695960733459390599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Via Google Translate: “I thoroughly examined it and made sure it wasn’t a serious injury before participating. Even if I do, the trainers and the team doctor will stop me.”</p><p>Yuta Watanabe will now turn his attention toward his first season with the Suns. He is expected to be a key piece off the bench.</p><p>Watanabe shot 44.1 percent from 3-point range in 2022-23, including over 50 percent on corner threes, with the Brooklyn Nets. He is 28 years old and has potential to grow after he played the most in his NBA career this past season.</p><p>Watanabe was assisted 14 times by Suns forward Kevin Durant with the Nets this past season. He figures to assume a role as a catch-and-shoot player and defensive threat.</p><p>“He’s going to be one of those people that’s highly, if we (the Nets) don’t lock him down, a lot of people are going to want him,” Durant said.</p><p>Watanabe will join a Suns team that is led by Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, who was acquired via trade with the Washington Wizards this summer. Watanabe is part of a Suns free agency class that includes guard Eric Gordon and forwards Keita Bates-Diop, Drew Eubanks, Chimezie Metu, among others.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Yuta Watanabe’s run with Japan in FIBA World Cup ends with unfortunate foul

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/fiba-world-cup-news-suns-yuta-watanabe-reacts-japan-finland');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Yuta Watanabe reacts after Japan stuns Lauri Markkanen, Finland in FIBA World Cup');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Suns-Yuta-Watanabe-reacts-after-Japan-stuns-Lauri-Markkanen-Finland.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Yuta Watanabe reacts after Japan stuns Lauri Markkanen, Finland in FIBA World Cup</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-08-27T23:19:01-07:00">August 27th, 11:19pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-08-27T23:19:01-07:00">August 27th, 11:19pm</time><address><a>Gerard Angelo Samillano</a>Gerard is an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints, with his focus primarily on the NBA, NFL, and Gaming. When he's not writing for CP, Gerard can often be seen playing VALORANT or playing pick-up basketball. He's also working on his BS Mathematics degree.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>All hail the Akatsuki Five! In one of the most stunning upsets in recent memory, Yuta Watanabe and Japan <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/fiba-world-cup-news-lakers-rui-hachimura-reacts-japans-massive-upset-finland" rel="noopener">upset</a> the Lauri Markannen-led Finnish squad in the group stage of the FIBA World Cup. The win was the first time the Japanese national team beat a European team. After the game, the Suns forward<a href="https://twitter.com/wacchi1013/status/1695957208801120448" rel="noopener"> took to X</a> to express his gratitude towards the Japanese fanbase that supported them.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="ja">昨日の雰囲気最高でした🙏　急遽チケット買ってきてくださって、席埋めてくれた方々に本当に感謝です。もちろんもともとチケット持ってた方や、ドイツ戦空席が目立った中でも一生懸命応援してくれてた方々みなさんもです。</p><p>次戦もお願いします🙏</p><p>— Yuta Watanabe 渡邊 雄太 (@wacchi1013) <a href="https://twitter.com/wacchi1013/status/1695957208801120448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Translation via Google Translate: “The atmosphere yesterday was great 🙏 I’m really grateful to the people who bought tickets in a hurry and filled the seats. Of course, the people who originally had tickets, and the people who cheered us on even though there were a lot of vacant seats in the match against Germany. Please do the next race 🙏”</p><p>Japan is one of the hosts of the FIBA World Cup, along with the Philippines and Indonesia. Despite that, many really didn’t expect the team to make it out of the group stage. After all, they were up against a rising Euro team in Finland, and two traditional powerhouses in Australia and Germany. With the win against Finland, though, Japan has a chance of making it to the Final 16.</p><p>Aside from the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-japan-fiba-world-cup-finland-lauri-markkanen" rel="noopener">historical value</a> of the win, a top-16 finish would also be incredible for Team Japan. The highest-seeded teams from each continent after the FIBA World Cup will be granted a spot in the Olympics. Currently, Japan has the inside track for this award: the Philippines, China, Lebanon, and Iran are still winless to this point. If all of these teams don’t make it to the playoffs and Japan does, they’ll automatically be qualified for the Olympics. If they do not qualify, though, all Asian teams will need to duke it out in the classification phase to see who advances to Paris in 2024.</p><p>It’s not going to come easy for Japan, though. Their final game will be against Australia in a do-or-die game. On paper, the Boomers should be favored: they are taller, stronger, and faster than the Akatsuki Five. Upsets can and will happen, though. Does Japan have one more upset in them to send their country to the playoffs, and perhaps the Olympics?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Yuta Watanabe reacts after Japan stuns Lauri Markkanen, Finland in FIBA World Cup

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-record-straight-ankle-injury-fiba-world-cup-japan');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns forward Yuta Watanabe sets record straight on ankle injury amid FIBA World Cup run with Japan');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Yuta_Watanabe_sets_record_straight_on_ankle_injury_amid_FIBA_World_Cup_run_with_Japan.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns forward Yuta Watanabe sets record straight on ankle injury amid FIBA World Cup run with Japan</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-08-27T22:36:59-07:00">August 27th, 10:36pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-08-27T22:36:59-07:00">August 27th, 10:36pm</time><address><a>Gerard Angelo Samillano</a>Gerard is an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints, with his focus primarily on the NBA, NFL, and Gaming. When he's not writing for CP, Gerard can often be seen playing VALORANT or playing pick-up basketball. He's also working on his BS Mathematics degree.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">FIBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Team Japan is on fire! In one of the most unlikely outcomes from the ongoing FIBA World Cup, Yuta Watanabe and the Akatsuki Five <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-japan-fiba-world-cup-finland-lauri-markkanen" rel="noopener">took down Finland</a>. Billed as the “worst” team in their group, Japan now has a very real possibility of making it to the playoffs. However, Phoenix Suns fans are a bit worried about Watanabe, who seems to have suffered an injury during the games.</p><p>After their historic win against Finland, Yuta Watanabe assuaged the fears about his injury. In a <a href="https://twitter.com/wacchi1013/status/1695960733459390599" rel="noopener">tweet written</a> in Japanese, the Suns forward said that he understood the concerns about his health. However, Watanabe made sure before the games that his injury wasn’t serious.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="ja">あと自分の足の事で、もう休んでとか来シーズンに集中してとかちょくちょく言われるんですが、アンゴラ戦やドイツ戦で痛めたとこはちゃんと検査して、重傷ではないのを確認して出場してます。本当にだめな時は出ないですし、僕が出ると言ってもトレーナー陣やチームドクターからストップがかかるので</p><p>— Yuta Watanabe 渡邊 雄太 (@wacchi1013) <a href="https://twitter.com/wacchi1013/status/1695960733459390599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Translation via Google Translate: “Also, regarding my leg, I was often told to take a break or concentrate on the next season, but when I hurt my leg in the match against Angola and Germany, I thoroughly examined it and made sure it wasn’t a serious injury before participating. I am doing. Even if I do, the trainers and the team doctor will stop me.”</p><p>Watanabe was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-major-role-team-japan-2023-fiba-world-cup" rel="noopener">largely instrumental</a> to the Akatsuki Five’s big win over the Finnish squad. The Suns forward provided his usual defense and three-point shooting for Team Japan to eke out the win. However, during the game, Watanabe had a visible limp during some moments in the game.</p><p>Team Japan will look to finish their group stage on a high note against Australia. A win here against against the Boomers, along with a Germany win against Finland is their easiest way to qualifying for the playoffs. Can Japan do the unthinkable and make it to the Top 16?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns forward Yuta Watanabe sets record straight on ankle injury amid FIBA World Cup run with Japan

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-japan-fiba-world-cup-finland-lauri-markkanen');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Yuta Watanabe, Japan make history with shocking upset of Lauri Markkanen, Finland in FIBA World Cup');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/yuta-3.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Yuta Watanabe, Japan make history with shocking upset of Lauri Markkanen, Finland in FIBA World Cup</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-08-27T12:46:15-07:00">August 27th, 12:46pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-08-27T12:46:15-07:00">August 27th, 12:46pm</time><address><a>Trevor Booth</a>Trevor Booth is a beat writer covering the Phoenix Suns, in addition to working as an associate editor. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports journalism from Arizona State University in 2021. Booth is passionate about his faith, video games, sports with friends and making the most of his time with his girlfriend when he's not working.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Phoenix Suns forward Yuta Watanabe <a href="https://basketnews.com/news-193617-yuta-watanabe-considers-retiring-from-nt-if-japan-fails-to-qualify-for-paris-olympics.html" rel="noopener">said</a> before Japan’s appearance in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup he would not play for the national team beyond this tournament if it did not qualify for the 2024 Olympics. Sunday, Japan <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1695822133216043070" rel="noopener">had a huge victory over</a> reigning NBA Most Improved Player Lauri Markkanen and Finland, 98-88, to keep its chances of advancing in the world cup and making the Olympics alive.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Got the dub and made history in the process‼️<a href="https://twitter.com/wacchi1013?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wacchi1013</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/JAPANBASKETBALL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JAPANBASKETBALL</a> made history defeating their first ever European opponent at the <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBAWC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIBAWC</a> and did so on their home court 👏</p><p> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAWC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAWC</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinForJapan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WinForJapan</a> <a href="https://t.co/8piW8WI7Xw">pic.twitter.com/8piW8WI7Xw</a></p><p>— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) <a href="https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1695833862864269572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Japan is 1-1 in group play and must beat Australia to move to the knockout round. The game will be Tuesday at 4:10 a.m. PT.</p><p>Watanabe, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-fiba-world-cup-japan-germany" rel="noopener">who stood out</a> in Japan’s loss to Germany Friday with 20 points on 9-of-19 shooting, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks, finished with four points on 1-of-6 shooting and two blocks. He appears to be playing through an ankle injury suffered in exhibition play earlier in the month.</p><p>Japan was led by former Washington State basketball forward Josh Hawkinson, who had 28 points on 7-of-9 shooting (14-of-15 from the free-throw line) and 19 rebounds.</p><p>Point guard Yuki Kawamura led Japan’s bench with 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting and nine assists. Markkanen finished with 27 points on 10-of-21 shooting and 12 rebounds for Finland, which is now eliminated from knockout play.</p><p>Watanabe is expected to be an important addition for the Suns. He shot 44.1 percent from 3-point range in 2022-23, including over 50 percent on corner threes, in 2022-23 with the Brooklyn Nets.</p><p>Watanabe was teammates with former Nets forward and current Sun Kevin Durant. Durant assisted Watanabe 14 times this past season.</p><p>“He’s going to be one of those people that’s highly, if we (the Nets) don’t lock him down, a lot of people are going to want him,” Durant said.</p><p>Watanabe signed a two-year minimum deal with the Suns in free agency this summer.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Yuta Watanabe, Japan make history with shocking upset of Lauri Markkanen, Finland in FIBA World Cup

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-fiba-world-cup-japan-germany');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Yuta Watanabe bounces back from injury, shows why Phoenix got a steal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/yuta-2.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Yuta Watanabe bounces back from injury, shows why Phoenix got a steal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-08-25T14:27:41-07:00">August 25th, 2:27pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-08-25T14:27:41-07:00">August 25th, 2:27pm</time><address><a>Trevor Booth</a>Trevor Booth is a beat writer covering the Phoenix Suns, in addition to working as an associate editor. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports journalism from Arizona State University in 2021. Booth is passionate about his faith, video games, sports with friends and making the most of his time with his girlfriend when he's not working.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Phoenix Suns forward Yuta Watanabe <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBAWC/status/1695100729219051732" rel="noopener">played</a> his first game of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Friday morning with team Japan. The Japanese lost the game to Germany, 81-63, but Watanabe <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-free-agency-analysis-yuta-watanabe" rel="noopener">showed why</a> he is a steal for the Suns.</p><p>Watanabe, who is the only NBA player on Japan’s roster, finished with 20 points on 9-of-19 shooting, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal. His defense was particularly impressive and promising for a Suns team that will be coached by Frank Vogel, who has led teams to a top-3 defensive rating in five of his years as a head coach.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">20 PTS and 6 REB for Yuta Watanabe in Japan’s opening <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAWC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAWC</a> matchup 🇯🇵👀<br> <a href="https://t.co/b9dFVbKGzu">pic.twitter.com/b9dFVbKGzu</a></p><p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1695108174963990556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Watanabe shot 44 percent from 3-point range this past season and 51 percent in the corner. He was teammates with Suns forward Kevin Durant with the Brooklyn Nets in 2022-23.</p><p>Watanabe was assisted 14 times by Durant with Brooklyn. Durant has said Watanabe is a player that teams will covet for his competitiveness.</p><p>“He’s going to be one of those people that’s highly, if we (the Nets) don’t lock him down, a lot of people are going to want him,” Durant said.</p><p>Watanabe signed a two-year minimum deal with the Suns this summer. He was coveted by several teams but chose Phoenix, where he is expected to be an important bench piece for a team seeking its first-ever NBA championship.</p><p>Watanabe played a career-best 58 games last season with the Nets. He averaged 5.6 points on 49.1 percent shooting in 16.0 minutes per game.</p><p>Watanabe is expected to be a top bench option behind Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Yuta Watanabe bounces back from injury, shows why Phoenix got a steal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-team-japan-fiba-world-cup-basketball');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Yuta Watanabe set to play for Japan in FIBA World Cup');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/yuta-1.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Yuta Watanabe set to play for Japan in FIBA World Cup</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-08-24T10:33:48-07:00">August 24th, 10:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-08-24T10:35:24-07:00">August 24th, 10:35am</time><address><a>Trevor Booth</a>Trevor Booth is a beat writer covering the Phoenix Suns, in addition to working as an associate editor. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports journalism from Arizona State University in 2021. Booth is passionate about his faith, video games, sports with friends and making the most of his time with his girlfriend when he's not working.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Phoenix Suns forward Yuta Watanabe will play for the Japanese national team in this summer’s FIBA Basketball World Cup.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yuta is representing his home country of Japan in the <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIBA</a> World Cup, with games starting this Friday! 🇯🇵 <a href="https://t.co/Qw1SrXeIBS">pic.twitter.com/Qw1SrXeIBS</a></p><p>— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) <a href="https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1694143021871481277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Watanabe, who <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/07/05/basketball/nba/watanabe-joins-suns/" rel="noopener">signed</a> a two-year contract with the Suns in free agency, is the only NBA player on Japan’s roster. He will be a featured part of their team, which is something Suns fans should check out ahead of the 2023-24 season.</p><p>Watanabe <a href="https://basketnews.com/news-193617-yuta-watanabe-considers-retiring-from-nt-if-japan-fails-to-qualify-for-paris-olympics.html" rel="noopener">has said</a> previously he would not play for Japan if they do not qualify for the Paris Olympics in 2024. Japan can qualify if it wins the FIBA Basketball World Cup or is the best team from its continent, Asia.</p><p>Here is Japan’s schedule for group games in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Japan is one of the host countries for the tournament, so Watanabe and the Japanese team will play all of their group games in Okinawa, Japan.</p><p>— Japan vs. Germany (Friday, Aug. 25) at 5:10 a.m. PT</p><p>— Japan vs. Finland (Sunday, Aug. 27) at 5:10 a.m. PT</p><p>— Japan vs. Australia (Tuesday, Aug. 29) at 4:10 a.m. PT</p><p>Watanabe is expected to be a reliable bench piece for the Suns. He shot 44.4 percent from 3-point range this past season and 51.3 percent in the corner, according to NBA Stats.</p><p>Watanabe played with forward Kevin Durant with the Brooklyn Nets before Durant was traded this past season.</p><p>“He’s going to be one of those people that’s highly, if we (the Nets) don’t lock him, down, a lot of people are going to want him,” <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-free-agency-analysis-yuta-watanabe" rel="noopener">Durant said</a> on his “Boardroom” podcast.</p><p>Deandre Ayton, Eric Gordon and Team Bahamas did not qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup but won an Olympic pre-qualifying tournament this past week and secured a spot in another qualifying tournament in 2024.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Yuta Watanabe set to play for Japan in FIBA World Cup

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-free-agency-analysis-yuta-watanabe');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns free agent analysis: Yuta Watanabe');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/yuta.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns free agent analysis: Yuta Watanabe</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-08-04T10:36:45-07:00">August 4th, 10:36am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-08-04T10:36:45-07:00">August 4th, 10:36am</time><address><a>Trevor Booth</a>Trevor Booth is a beat writer covering the Phoenix Suns, in addition to working as an associate editor. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports journalism from Arizona State University in 2021. Booth is passionate about his faith, video games, sports with friends and making the most of his time with his girlfriend when he's not working.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns needed to upgrade their depth following a 2023 playoff run in which they were exposed by the NBA champion Denver Nuggets. The Suns did so with several shooters and players with upside, including former Brooklyn Nets wing Yuta Watanabe.</p><p>Watanabe played the start of last season with Suns forward Kevin Durant and was a fan-favorite. Watanabe played with great hustle and has a 3-point shot that will aid the Suns’ bench dramatically.</p><p>Here is what Durant <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-yuta-watanabe-phoenix-suns-kevin-durant" rel="noopener">said</a> about Watanabe on his “Boardroom” podcast.</p><p>“He’s going to be one of those people that’s highly, if we (the Nets) don’t lock him down, a lot of people are going to want him,” Durant said.</p><p>The Suns got him. ClutchPoints evaluated his free agency signing.</p><h2>Strengths</h2><p>The Suns’ bench lacked reliable options last season. Phoenix tried its best to upgrade its reserves after the arrival of Kevin Durant, but it never found a consistent rotation it could rely on in the postseason.</p><p>Even though the Suns were severely limited financially in the free agency market, they scored Watanabe, a 28-year-old wing who said he was in contact with several other teams. He chose the Suns and will reunite with Durant, who assisted plenty of catch-and-shoot threes for Watanabe with the Nets this past season.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The content you all asked for.</p><p>The 14 times Kevin Durant assisted Yuta Watanabe. <a href="https://t.co/2dn9zkAuLf">pic.twitter.com/2dn9zkAuLf</a></p><p>— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) <a href="https://twitter.com/KellanOlson/status/1675008372805099520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Watanabe is an excellent perimeter shooter. He made 60-of-135 attempts last season (44.4 percent) and will be a threat to score off kicks from Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, among other Suns.</p><p><a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/catch-shoot?PerMode=Totals&amp;TeamID=1610612751&amp;SeasonType=Regular+Season" rel="noopener">According</a> to NBA stats, 59 of those threes were from catch-and-shoot chances. He shot 51.3 percent in the corner, which will prove very well for the Suns.</p><p>Expect Watanabe to be a willing defender, too. The Suns have questions they need to answer about their identity. Opposing teams will see Watanabe as a perimeter offensive threat, but he can be even more effective if he proves he can guard within Frank Vogel’s defensive scheme.</p><p>This is a great signing for the Suns on a veteran minimum deal. In November, Watanabe’s shooting was well-documented around the league. He has Durant’s approval. He should be a favorite for Suns fans if he can deliver on his talents.</p><h2>Development</h2><p>Watanabe had his best year of his NBA career this past season. He played a career-most 58 games and established himself as a shooter and weapon while averaging 16.0 minutes per contest.</p><p>There is reason to believe the NBA has not seen the best of him. Watanabe is 28 years old but finally got a chance to step into a role last season, which he can use even more to help the Suns’ success in 2023-24.</p><p>Watanabe will have to be able to penetrate on some occasions to become a staple in the Suns’ bench. The team knows what it can get out of him, but there will be competition to earn consistent minutes before the playoffs. Watanabe figures to be an important piece because of his shooting ability, but if he wants to maximize his two-year contract and earn a bigger deal, he will have to develop more.</p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns free agent analysis: Yuta Watanabe

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-major-role-team-japan-2023-fiba-world-cup');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Yuta Watanabe to have major role for Team Japan in 2023 FIBA World Cup');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Suns-news-Yuta-Watanabe-to-have-major-role-for-Team-Japan-in-2023-FIBA-World-Cup.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Yuta Watanabe to have major role for Team Japan in 2023 FIBA World Cup</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-07-30T15:36:16-07:00">July 30th, 3:36pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-07-30T15:36:16-07:00">July 30th, 3:36pm</time><address><a>Quenton Albertie</a>Quenton Albertie is an author and sportswriter with a focus on the NBA. A native of Fort Hood, TX, Albertie currently lives in Atlanta, GA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">FIBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In preparation for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Phoenix Suns <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-hints-bombshell-japan-decision-fiba-world-cup" rel="noopener">forward Yuta Watanabe</a> had his first training session with the Japanese men’s national basketball team this year around on Sunday, per Mainichi Japan. The 28-year-old <a href="https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230730/p2g/00m/0sp/042000c" rel="noopener">should have a major role</a> for Team Japan when the tournament begins on Aug. 25.</p><p>In fact, Watanabe is “expected to shoulder much of Japan’s scoring load in the absence of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-rui-hachimura-3-word-message-after-51-million-contract" rel="noopener">[Los Angeles Lakers forward] Rui Hachimura</a>.”</p><p>A sharpshooter and hustle player with defensive upside, Watanabe made 44.4 percent of his 3-point attempts last season and has made 39.0 percent from 3 over the course of his career. His numbers in international play haven’t been quite as efficient, with Watanabe shooting just 24.0 percent from 3 in FIBA Senior Team events. However, Watanabe has averaged at least 15 points per game in his last three FIBA events, including a scoring average of 17.7 points per game in the Tokyo Olympics.</p><p>For his part, Hachimura averaged 13.3 points per game for Japan during the 2019 FIBA World Cup before exploding for 22.3 points per game in the Tokyo Olympics. That said, there does appear to be <a href="https://olympics.com/en/news/fiba-world-cup-2023-japan-provisional-squad-announcement" rel="noopener">a bit of uncertainty</a> about whether Hachimura will actually join the Japanese men’s national team this summer, with Hachimura named among Japan’s provisional squad members by Shintaro Kano of Olympics.com.</p><p>Speaking to Mainichi Japan about his experience since joining the team, Watanabe says, “I just got here, so I still have a lot to learn, but I’m getting acquainted with the team really nicely. I’m looking forward to the next stage.”</p><p>Japan, coached by Tom Hovasse, is co-hosting the World Cup alongside the Philippines and Indonesia. They will face Germany, Finland and Australia in Group E.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Yuta Watanabe to have major role for Team Japan in 2023 FIBA World Cup

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-yuta-watanabe-hints-bombshell-japan-decision-fiba-world-cup');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Yuta Watanabe hints at bombshell Japan decision ahead of FIBA World Cup');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Yuta-Watanabe-hints-at-bombshell-Japan-decision-ahead-of-FIBA-World-Cup.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Yuta Watanabe hints at bombshell Japan decision ahead of FIBA World Cup</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-07-28T08:44:45-07:00">July 28th, 8:44am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-07-28T08:45:26-07:00">July 28th, 8:45am</time><address><a>Ivan Saldajeno</a>Ivan Saldajeno leads a local sports website and was part of the Philippines' premier news wire service. You can follow him on Twitter and Threads: @IvanSaldajeno</address><h3 class="op-kicker">FIBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Yuta Watanabe, one of the Phoenix Suns’ <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-yuta-watanabe-bids-farewell-to-brooklyn-after-suns-move" rel="noopener">latest signings</a>, is going all-in in Japan’s hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup. The 6-foot-9 sweet-shooting Suns forward vowed that he will lead the so-called “Akatsuki Five” to victories in the World Cup that they will co-host with the Philippines and Indonesia.</p><p>He even said that if Japan continues to lose despite playing in front of their fans at the Okinawa Arena, he could be retiring from international basketball very soon.</p><p>“No one, neither the players nor the spectators, wants to see us lose. If we end up with a string of defeats this time as well, I’m ready to take off the national team’s uniform. That’s how much I am committed to this World Cup,” <a href="https://basket-count.com/article/detail/154797" rel="noopener">the 28-year-old Watanabe said in Japanese</a> in a report by Basket Count as <a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/news/watanabe-committed-to-win-with-akatsuki-japan-at-world-cup" rel="noopener">translated into English</a> by the FIBA website.</p><p>Yuta Watanabe has seen enough of Japan’s struggles in global competitions. Japan lost five straight games during the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China. The toughest of all was when they lost three straight at home during the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/naomi-osaka-gets-brutally-honest-on-regrets-from-tokyo-olympics-experience" rel="noopener">Tokyo Olympics</a> in 2021.</p><p>Two years after hosting the Olympics, Japan is hosting the FIBA Basketball World Cup again, and Yuta Watanabe is very serious this time.</p><p>“Carrying the Hinomaru is a responsibility, and one that cannot be taken lightly,” said Watanabe. “As a key player, I believe I must fulfill my responsibilities there.”</p><p>Japan is headlining Group E with Germany, Finland, and Australia also in it. It is presumed to be the “group of death” considering how Japan has improved over the years, even beating the Philippines, a known Asian powerhouse, in last year’s FIBA Asia Cup.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Yuta Watanabe hints at bombshell Japan decision ahead of FIBA World Cup

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-news-yuta-watanabe-bids-farewell-to-brooklyn-after-suns-move');   ga('set', 'title', 'Yuta Watanabe sends heartfelt farewell to Nets after following Kevin Durant to Suns');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Nets_news_Yuta_Watanabe_sends_heartfelt_farewell_to_Brooklyn_after_following_Kevin_Durant_to_Suns_2.jpg"></figure><h1>Yuta Watanabe sends heartfelt farewell to Nets after following Kevin Durant to Suns</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-07-04T15:52:17-07:00">July 4th, 3:52pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-07-04T15:52:17-07:00">July 4th, 3:52pm</time><address><a>Paolo Songco</a>A father of two over-energetic boys, Paolo has been a writer for ClutchPoints for many years. His passion lies in all things NBA and he has a knack for speaking his mind in his articles -- even when at times it gets him into trouble with the fans. Controversial? Maybe. Excellent writer? Definitely.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Yuta Watanabe is no star. However, the 28-year-old <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-kyrie-irving-bonkers-yuta-watanabe-claim-will-piss-off-stephen-curry" rel="noopener">emerged as a fan favorite</a> during his stint with the Brooklyn Nets this past season. This is probably why more than a few Nets fans were sad to see him go in NBA free agency to follow former Brooklyn superstar Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns. It wasn’t a complete shock that Yuta ended up moving on to greener pastures, but it was still a noteworthy departure for the team and for the fans.</p><p>For his part, Watanabe has recently come out with his farewell message to the Nets now that he’s taking his talents out West. The 6-foot-9 small forward took to Twitter to say his goodbyes:</p><p>“Brooklyn, thank you for everything. <a href="https://twitter.com/wacchi1013/status/1676340161469382656" rel="noopener">I’ll always be grateful</a>. Will miss you,” Watanabe wrote.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Brooklyn, thank you for everything. I’ll always be grateful. Will miss you</p><p>— Yuta Watanabe 渡邊 雄太 (@wacchi1013) <a href="https://twitter.com/wacchi1013/status/1676340161469382656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Yuta kept it short and simple. However, there’s no denying that he was genuinely thankful for the opportunity the Nets gave him last season. The Japanese national had arguably the best year of his career in Brooklyn last term, averaging <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/watanyu01.html#all_per_game-playoffs_per_game" rel="noopener">5.6 points</a> and 2.4 rebounds in just 16.0 minutes of action. Where he stood out, however, is with his efficiency from beyond the arc, knocking down 44.4 percent of his triples on 2.3 attempts per game.</p><p>He’s obviously no star and his numbers are by no means eye-popping, but this was enough to earn him a one-year deal with the Suns for $2.3 million. Phoenix wants to surround their Kevin Durant-Devin Booker-Bradley Beal Big 3 with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-toumani-camara-contract-nba-summer-league" rel="noopener">as many weapons as they can</a>, and it is clear that Yuta Watanabe fits the bill for them.</p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Yuta Watanabe sends heartfelt farewell to Nets after following Kevin Durant to Suns

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-news-chandler-parsons-rips-yuta-watanabe-leaves-skid-marks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Chandler Parsons drives the bus over Nets’ Yuta Watanabe, leaves skid marks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Chandler-Parsons-drives-the-bus-over-Yuta-Watanabe-leaves-skid-marks.jpg"></figure><h1>Chandler Parsons drives the bus over Nets’ Yuta Watanabe, leaves skid marks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2023-01-11T16:51:51-08:00">January 11th, 4:51pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2023-01-11T23:46:35-08:00">January 11th, 11:46pm</time><address><a>Paolo Songco</a>A father of two over-energetic boys, Pao has been a writer for ClutchPoints for many years. His passion lies in all things NBA and he has a knack for speaking his mind in his articles -- even when at times it gets him into trouble with the fans. Controversial? Maybe. Excellent writer? Definitely.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-latest-yuta-watanabe-injury-update-amid-extended-absence" rel="noopener">Yuta Watanabe</a> has been <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-kyrie-irving-bonkers-yuta-watanabe-claim-will-piss-off-stephen-curry" rel="noopener">making quite a name</a> for himself among Brooklyn Nets fans since joining the team during the offseason. He’s no star and is far from a household name, but the 28-year-old has been making enough noise to be talked about in league circles.</p><p>For his part, however, former NBA star Chandler Parsons isn’t buying in on the Watanabe hype train. There has been some talk about the Nets stud participating in this year’s 3-point contest during the All-Star weekend — a notion that has been completely shot down by Parsons:</p><p>“You <a href="https://twitter.com/LegionHoops/status/1613324346088624129?s=20&amp;t=ozgM1MHAzv2crnBGIYFKSQ" rel="noopener">can’t put that man</a> in the 3-point Contest,” Parsons said. “… I think he would buckle severely under pressure.”</p><p>Parsons showed no mercy here. The ex-Houston Rockets star turned NBA analyst is adamant that Watanabe would not be able to handle the pressure of the bright lights during the All-Star festivities. In short, Parsons is confident that the Nets swingman would fail miserably if the league decided to invite him for the 3-point contest. Yikes.</p><p>To be fair, Yuta Watanabe has been one of the most efficient marksmen in the league this season. He isn’t attempting a high volume of shots from distance, but the fact that he’s currently draining 1.4 triples per game for the Nets on a 52.7 percent clip speaks volumes of his acumen from beyond the ark.</p><p>Be that as it may, what is clear is that Chandler Parsons has zero confidence in Watanabe’s abilities, particularly if it is tested against the best shooters in the NBA.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2023-24 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
3.6	1.6	0.3	0.2	0.3

2023-24 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
3.6	1.6	0.3	0.2	0.3

Yuta Watanabe news

Yuta
Watanabe news