Yuta got some minutes off the bench tonight in the Raptors loss to Golden State:

9 Minutes
1-3 from the Field
0-3 from 3
2 defensive rebounds
1 assist
2 blocks
2 TOs
2 Fouls
+/- of -7 (2nd worst on the team)

Nice to see Yuta getting some more playing time. 2 blocks in 9 minutes is very nice to see including this block on Curry:

https://twitter.com/Raptors/status/1348468856021524480

https://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2021/01/what-know-about-toronto-raptors-new-heartthrob-yuta-watanabe/

MG14 wrote:

Yuta received some decent playing time in last night's win against the Hornets (though he was pulled for a majority of the 4th).

15 Minutes
3 points
1-2 from the Field (1-2 from 3)
4 defensive rebounds
1 steal
1 block
+8 (2nd best behind Kyle Lowry)

Raptors highlighted him with another tweet as well:

https://twitter.com/Raptors/status/1349886510099804161

Here's an article in The Atlantic: https://theathletic.com/2324569/2021/01/15/yuta-watanabe-is-becoming-raptors-glue-guy-off-the-bench/

MG, thank you for posting these links. I enjoyed reading about Yuta.  I still remember how hard he worked every second he was on the court for GW.  It seems as if he's doing the same thing in the NBA and it's working!  I would say my favorite players in all sports are/were the hardest working players, as opposed to the most talented players (although the true greats are both skill and exceptionally hard working, IMO).

I am interested in knowing who everyone here thinks are the all-time 5 hardest working GW players (for each position).  Would anyone have an opinion on that?

I would of course have to say Yuta would be included on that list as a SF. 
And maybe for Point Guard Shawnta Rodgers, SG I don't know, PF, Mike Hall and C maybe Mike Brown who played with Shawta.  Does anyone else have an opinion?

You old timers will remember him, but I always thought that Mike Zagardo was one of the hardest centers I had seen at GW.   I would add Yegor also at the 4.  Pato was a very hard worker also.   As was Mike Hall.  I am also having trouble coming up with guards.  Clearly Shawnta, who was all over the place on the court and at 5'4" could hold his own on the boards.   On the current team, I am very impressed with the work ethic of Jamison Battle, who hwas worked very hard to expand his game.    Matt Moyer also impresses me as being a hard worker on both offense and defense.

Last edited by Long Suffering Fan (1/16/2021 9:25 am)

Some not mentioned above:
Mike Battle, Walt Szererbiak, Mike Samson, Mike Hall, Bill Brigham, Joe MacDonald.

Last edited by xAC (1/16/2021 10:52 am)

With Dayton in mind...
There will always be Joe Mac. How about this hustle to follow Savage... for the game winner
(Start at the 4:10 mark)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAJdZ3SuaKA

And there will always be Carl Elliott
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoGdeH-IfDs


 

And of course, Pops had a high motor.

Yuta and the Raptors are playing against the Charlotte Hornets right now on NBA TV, the game started about 10 minutes ago. 

Discussion of hardest working players has to include Tyler Cavanaugh and Patricio Garino.  Agree with Mile Hall and Chris Monroe being on the list.

With injuries stacking up for the Raptors, Yuta is getting some serious minutes. In their last game, Yuta recorded 21 minutes of play and was asked to guard Indiana’s guards for most of the fourth quarter.

Here is a great video of a tired Yuta post game:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/ca.movies.yahoo.com/amphtml/am-really-tired-yuta-watanabe-221301957.html

And here is a great piece about the players stepping up while injuries stack up. Kyle Lowry had very high praise for Yuta saying he plays with some real toughness and puts in 110%.
https://dailyhive.com/toronto/raptors-players-exceeding-expectations-this-season