A former Brooklyn Nets fan favorite is leaving the NBA to take his talents overseas. After declining his $2.6 million player option with the Memphis Grizzlies for 2024-25, Yuta Watanabe is expected to join the Chiba Jets in Japan's Professional Basketball League, according to BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas.

Watanabe, who was born and raised in Japan, played four college seasons at George Washington University. The 6-foot-9 forward went undrafted in 2018. However, he carved out a lengthy NBA career, playing six seasons and appearing in 213 games. Watanabe and Rui Hachimura are the only Japanese players to play multiple seasons in the association.

After playing sparingly during his first four seasons with the Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors, Watanabe turned in the best year of his career with the Nets in 2022-23. The minimum signing averaged 5.6 points and 2.4 rebounds while playing 16.0 minutes per game over 58 appearances. He shot a career-high 44.4 percent from three, the NBA's fourth-highest mark among players to attempt over two per game.

Watanabe's signature performance came in a last-second win over the Portland Trail Blazers, during which he posted 20 points, seven rebounds, and two assists on 5-of-7 shooting from deep. He briefly led the NBA in three-point percentage following the victory. His hot shooting earned him the nickname “Yuta the Shoota” amongst Brooklyn fans.

With the Nets prioritizing youth in free agency the following offseason, Watanabe followed Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns, signing a two-year, minimum contract. The 29-year-old had a steady role early in the season but fell out of the rotation midway through the year.

Phoenix traded him to Memphis at the deadline as part of a three-team deal that landed them Royce O'Neale from the Nets. He finished his time with the Suns averaging 3.6 points and 1.6 rebounds on 36 percent shooting from the field and 32.0 percent from three over 29 appearances.

Watanabe announced during an Instagram live session in April that he intended to return home to Japan this coming year. He will now star as the top attraction in the country's top professional league, which played its first season in 2015. His new team finished second in the league's top division last season. They also feature Australian national star and former NBA player Xavier Cooks.

Watanabe will once again appear on the international stage this summer when he stars for Japan in the Paris Olympics. He averaged 14.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists on 43 percent shooting last summer during the 2023 FIBA World Cup.