Watanabe (personal) is not expected to pick up his $2.6 million player option this offseason and will head to the B.League in Japan, Keith Smith of Spotrac.com reports.
Watanabe announced the news during an Instagram Live session. Assuming he does not ultimately return to the NBA, the six-year veteran will bookend his career with stints in Memphis. Although, he played only five games for the Grizzlies this year, as most of his season was spent in Phoenix. His most productive tenure came with the Nets during the 2022-23 season, when the forward averaged 5.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 triples across 16.0 minutes per game.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Ruled out for season finale
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Watanabe (personal) is out for Sunday's game against the Nuggets.
Watanabe missed the Grizzlies' final 22 games of the season due to a personal issue. He ended the season with averages of 3.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game across 34 appearances between the Suns and Grizzlies.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Out once again Friday
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Watanabe (personal) is out for Friday's game against the Lakers.
This is Watanabe's 21st straight absence, and it's highly unlikely that he'll suit up for the season finale against the Nuggets on Sunday.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Still sidelined
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Watanabe (personal) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Cavaliers.
Watanabe's absence streak will extend to 20 games Wednesday. He has only two more chances to suit up this season -- Friday versus the Lakers and Sunday against the Nuggets.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Remains sidelined
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Watanabe (personal) has been ruled out for Tuesday's matchup against the Spurs.
Watanabe hasn't played since March 1. It's unclear if he'll be able to play again this season.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: To miss another game
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Watanabe (personal) will not play in Saturday's matchup with the 76ers.
Watanabe will now miss his 18th straight game. There is no word from the team on any sort of immediate return at this point. Still, his next chance to do so will be Tuesday versus the Spurs.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Out once again
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Watanabe (personal) is out for Friday's game against the Pistons.
Including Friday's contest, Watanabe has now missed 17 games in a row, and it doesn't seem likely that he'll return to action before the end of the regular season. His next chance to play will come against the 76ers on Saturday in the second half of a back-to-back set.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Remains out
Rotowire
Watanabe (personal) is out for Wednesday's game against the Bucks.
Watanabe is set to miss a 16th straight game, and there's no apparent reason why he's out other than it being a personal matter. As such, his next chance to feature will come against Detroit on Friday, but it wouldn't be shocking if he ends up being ruled out for the rest of the season sooner rather than later.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Out again Monday
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Watanabe (personal) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Pistons.
Watanabe will miss a 15th straight game. His next chance to suit up will come Wednesday in Milwaukee.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Still out for Saturday
Rotowire
Watanabe (personal) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Magic.
Watanabe hasn't played since March 1. His next chance to suit up will come Monday in Detroit.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Absence to continue Wednesday
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Watanabe (personal) will not play Wednesday versus the Lakers.
Watanabe has not suited up since March 1, initially due to a wrist sprain and now for personal reasons. The 29-year-old is unlikely to profile as a relevant component of the Grizzlies rotation down the stretch.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Won't play Monday
Rotowire
Watanabe (personal) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Nuggets.
Watanabe continues to tend to a personal matter, and it's unclear when he'll be able to return. His next chance to suit up will be Wednesday against the Lakers.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Out once again
Rotowire
Watanabe (personal) is out for Friday's game against the Spurs.
Watanabe has been sidelined since the beginning of March, and he has no clear timetable for his return given he's been out for personal reasons during the last few games. His next chance to play will come against Denver on Monday.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Ruled out vs. Golden State
Rotowire
Watanabe (personal) will not play against the Warriors on Wednesday.
Watanabe has been sidelined since March 1, initially for a wrist sprain and now for personal reasons. His next chance to play will be Friday against the Spurs.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Remains sidelined
Rotowire
Watanabe won't play in Monday's game against the Kings due to personal reasons.
Watanabe hasn't played since Mar. 1 due to a right wrist sprain, but he will miss Monday's game for personal reasons. When he is available, he will likely have a limited role off the bench.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Still out
Rotowire
Watanabe (wrist) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Thunder due to personal reasons.
Watanabe hasn't played since March 1 due to a right wrist sprain, but the Grizzlies are attributing his absence Saturday to a non-injury-related matter. In any case, his next chance to suit up will come Monday in Sacramento.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Set to practice in G League
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The Grizzlies assigned Watanabe (wrist) to the G League's Memphis Hustle on Wednesday to participate in practice.
He'll be recalled immediately after the session, but Watanabe will remain out for Wednesday's game against the Hornets. Watanabe hasn't played since March 1 due to a right wrist sprain, but his participation in practice is a sign that he's nearing a return to action.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Remains out
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Watanabe (wrist) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Hornets.
Watanabe will miss a sixth straight game. His next chance to suit up will come Saturday versus the Thunder.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Still out
Rotowire
Watanabe (wrist) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Wizards.
Watanabe will miss a fifth straight game. His next chance to suit up will come Wednesday versus the Hornets.
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Grizzlies' Yuta Watanabe: Out again Sunday
Rotowire
Watanabe (wrist) will not play Sunday against the Thunder.
Watanabe will miss his fourth straight game and remains without a timetable for a return. Once cleared, he's likely going to have a minor role at the end of the rotation.
