A couple of weeks ago, if I asked you who led the NBA in 3-point shooting, you’d probably guess Steph Curry or Klay Thompson from the Golden State Warriors. Yuta Watanabe, a backup forward from the Nets, actually led the NBA in 3-point percentage prior to his injury.<\/p>\n
In 14 games with the Nets, Watanabe averaged 8.1 points in 18 minutes of action off the bench. However, he averaged 14.5 points per game in his last four games before his hamstring injury. He made the most of his limited court time by knocking down a scorching 57.1% of his 3-point attempts.<\/p>\n
You can tell how much my teammates trust me by passing me the ball,”<\/strong> Watanabe said after scoring 16 points off the bench in a victory against the Memphis Grizzlies.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nWatanabe emerged as the Nets’ most reliable corner shooter before he missed the last three weeks with a right hamstring injury.<\/p>\n
Watanabe played his collegiate ball at George Washington. He became the first Japanese-born basketball player to secure a scholarship to a Division I school. He went undrafted in the NBA, but latched on with the Memphis Grizzlies and their developmental team, the Memphis Hustle, for two seasons. He spent two more seasons as a reserve with the Toronto Raptors before joining the Nets this season.<\/p>\n
The Nets anticipate Watanabe could suit up sometime soon. If he’s not able to play on Friday against the Hawks, he could return on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers.<\/strong><\/p>\n“My hamstring is feeling good,” said Watanabe. “Hopefully I can play this weekend.”<\/p>\n