<figure id="attachment_263507" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-263507" style="width: 1612px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="abacffd7"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2022/09/ae7b9e3e7b43adc2ebd31773da1c65dd.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-263507" class="wp-caption-text">International experience makes him a team leader for Japan&#8217;s national team; how far will he go with a top NBA team (Photo: Kyodo News)</figcaption></figure>
<p> Yuta Watanabe, 27, who is entering his fifth season in the NBA, the longest of any Japanese player, will begin a new challenge. The Nets have been a member of the team since &#8217;12. The Nets moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 2012, and have become one of the most popular teams in the city with major reinforcements. The Nets are a &#8220;star-studded team&#8221; with four-time scoring champion Kevin Durant (33) and seven-time All-Star Kyrie Irving (30) dominating the court.</p>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>
<p> However, Watanabe posted on Twitter, &#8220;I will do my best again with a cliffhanger spirit. However, Watanabe posted on Twitter, &#8220;I&#8217;m going to work hard again with a cliffhanger mentality.</p>
<p><strong> Some local NBA fans posted on social media that he had &#8216;picked up a diamond in the rough,&#8217; but others were harsh, saying he was chosen because he was &#8216;cheap. In the press, there is a slightly cold tone, such as &#8216;It&#8217;s not a big move,'&#8221; said Makiko Iizuka, a journalist living in the United States.</strong></p>
<div data-friday-ad-slot="AD_inArticle"></div>
<p> What is required of Watanabe? Sportswriter Daisuke Sugiura explains.</p>
<p><strong> The first hurdle is to remain on the roster until the season opener in October, which will not be easy because the Nets have a large bench. However, if he can demonstrate his signature three-point shooting and defense, he will be expected to be a super-sub in an offensive-minded team. If he stays in the frame, he will be a welcomed player by his teammates because of his hardworking and well-loved personality.&#8221;</strong></p>
<p> Watanabe&#8217;s mission is to see if he can bring new chemistry to the star-studded squad.</p>
<figure id="attachment_263508" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-263508" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="5d9d67e3"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2022/09/a1aa944c73b173bcaecae37e44cb77b0.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-263508" class="wp-caption-text"> Irving (left) and Durant boast explosive scoring ability. Watanabe&#8217;s first priority will be on the defensive side of the ball.</figcaption></figure>
<p> From the September 16, 2022 issue of FRIDAY</p>


 Kyodo News Afro

 Yuta Watanabe, 27, in his fifth NBA season, signed a contract with the Brooklyn Nets in late August. Will Watanabe be able to survive among a star-studded team that includes four-time scoring champion Kevin Durant and seven-time All-Star Kyrie Irving?

Yuta Watanabe’s challenge to the Brooklyn Nets, a star-studded team, is too thick

Access Ranking