Block or Charge wrote:

Here's the ESPN article announcing Yuta signing with the Suns. The article notes that Yuta played four years at Georgetown...SMH

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37941005

 
I’m shaking my head too. Because that’s an easy fix that the sports pr staff at GW should immediately get corrected. Asleep at the switch.

Last edited by Alum1 (6/30/2023 11:41 pm)

Durant was a big proponent of Yuta, so not surprised Phoenix is signing him.

Congratulations to Yuta!
Hope they paid for Durant's wise desire
to play with Yuta,whose skills,unselfishness and hustle makes  every player and every team better.
Unless I missed it,no terms were announced in
that inept ESPN piece.
Greatly hope he has a guaranteed contract.
Yuta proved himself greatly and there is no way he should have to fight for a roster spot anymore.

I am extremely happy for Yuta.    A point of pride for the program to have someone from GW hang around the NBA for any amount of time.    In my (gulp) 50 years, I can only remember Mike Brown and Yinka ever having stayed around in the NBA long enough to make a splash.   (If memory serves me correct, Mike was on one of the Bulls championship teams.  He was also good buddies with Karl Malone).   I am a bit disappointed however as I would have loved for him to sign with the Knicks, who were reportedly interested (at least per the NY Post).   He would hav fit in nicely by the slot now left vacant by the loss of Obi Toppin.    A three point shooter who does not demand the ball and plays excellent defense...who wouldn't want a player like that.  

BGF wrote:

Spotrac reported the deal as one year at a shade under $2.35m.

Update to Yuta’s contract structure.  2 years, $5m total, 2nd year player option. 

https://twitter.com/mikeascotto/status/1676959824800808963?s=46&t=Q-B9hWjWh5XMBYUtWNYKFw

Last edited by BGF (7/08/2023 1:13 pm)

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/08/c0f43e195e13-basketball-watanabe-may-return-for-japan-after-missing-france-clash.html

Without Hachimura, there is NO WAY Yuta is not a big part of Japan´s team. The economics dictate it. There are too many units of merch to move and too many eyeballs to capture to have him sit too much, especially with the time differences killing any ratings the World Cup might have gotten in the USA.
Lots of pressure to put on him, but he has to have court time for this tournament to be a financial success.
 

Yuta gets the start for Japan in their opener against Germany. Japan´s offensive strategy seems to be have Yuta shoot the three and hope for the best, maybe their only option given that talent wise they are (how do you say it nicely?) limited.
Germany up 18-8 3:19 left in the 1st quarter.
 

Yuta starts but plays much less of a role (just 4 points on 1-6 shooting) in Japan´s win over Finland and it comes down to the win-or-go-home game Tuesday morning against Australia (which lost to Germany, setting up the elimination game)

Japan comes back to beat Venezuela by a score of 86-77.

Yuta ends up with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Shot 8-14 from the field.

Japan seems to be in decent position to qualify for the Olympics.