The new Phoenix Sun has said he will retire from national team duty if Japan fail to reach Paris. In more than one way, it's do or die for Watanabe on Friday.
(2023 Getty Images)
Thrown in a group including Germany, Finland and Australia, the odds are stacked against Japan at FIBA World Cup 2023.
Yet, Watanabe Yuta is still putting his international career on the line - sprained right ankle and all.
“I’ve played for the national team for 13 years,” Watanabe said to a capacity crowd at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena last Saturday (19 August), after Japan dropped their final World Cup tune-up game to Luka Doncic and Slovenia.
“I just have not been able to achieve the results I’ve wanted so if I cannot get to Paris with this team, I plan on quitting the national team. That’s how committed I am to this tournament.
“So I ask for all your support in Okinawa, because I do want to keep playing for this team in front of everyone.”
Watanabe is only 28 and has plenty of good basketball in him, especially for Japan. It’s why the Phoenix Suns signed him to a two-year deal this summer at the behest of his former Brooklyn Nets team-mate, Kevin Durant.
Without Rui Hachimura, who chose to opt out of the World Cup in a summer of free agency, Watanabe remains Japan’s best player.
But the losing over the years has taken its toll. From losing all five games at the previous World Cup in 2019 and three more at his home Olympic Games in Tokyo, Watanabe has suffered. And it hurts.
For Okinawa, which tips off on Friday for Japan against Germany, Watanabe was ready to go all-in. But in an 15 August friendly versus Angola, he rolled his ankle. Watanabe has not played since.
The ankle is far from healed. Nevertheless Watanabe will still take to the court against a very formidable Germany team, and he is not going to hold back.
Because Watanabe can’t afford to - if he wants to go to Paris 2024 and keep donning the Japan jersey.
And that, he does.
“Being completely honest I don’t expect to be 100 per cent,” Watanabe said. “But I’m fit enough to play. If my minutes are reduced it’s only because I’m not playing well not because of my ankle.
“I’ve come this far so I just have to go out there and do it. Once you step out onto the court, opponents don’t care whether you’re in pain or not.
“I’m not about to make excuses. It’s my fault that I got hurt. It is what it is. I looked at these last few days as rest.
“There’s a lot of pressure on us but you still have to be able to have fun being out there.”