Yuta Watanabe enjoyed ‘every single second’ of being back on the court
Yuta Watanabe finally made his season debut, admitting after the game against the Grizzlies that the past few months rehabbing a calf injury were “stressful.”
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Video Transcript
JEN: Well, so you're here. And let's start with English questions and then we'll go to Japanese. No?
PHIL: Oh, OK. There's nobody in the room.
JEN: OK. Oh, [INAUDIBLE]. Go ahead [INAUDIBLE].
YUTA WATANABE: I mean, great. I was waiting for this moment for a month and a half. And I didn't shoot well but we got the dub tonight. That's what I'm really happy about it. And every single second I enjoyed it, so it was great.
JEN: Is there--
YUTA WATANABE: Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Good to be back here. I get to play against my older teammates. Yeah, so everything was perfect tonight.
JEN: [INAUDIBLE].
YUTA WATANABE: No, it's just end goal. Nothing has changed. I mean, injury happens as long as we play basketball. And I felt like I was you taking care of my body. I was eating well, sleeping well. But injury sometimes happens, so. But my goal hasn't changed. It's still the same goal. And I just want to help my team to get some W and go to playoffs, stuff like that, so nothing has changed.
JEN: OK. [INAUDIBLE] questions, Phil.
PHIL: Thanks, Jen. We'll start with Josh Lewenberg from TSN.
JOSH LEWENBERG: Hey, Yuta. Welcome back. Good to see you.
YUTA WATANABE: Thank you.
JOSH LEWENBERG: And congrats on the win. Can you take us through what-- you mentioned that you've been waiting for this for a month and a half. What has this month and a half been like? It seems like it's been a roller coaster of emotions. How frustrating has it been to want to play and physically not be able to?
YUTA WATANABE: Yeah. I mean, it was really stressful. For us basketball players, not being able to play, it's the most stressful thing, so. That was very stressful, but I really appreciate my coaching staff, my teammates always communicating me. My trainers always took care of me. So even though I wasn't playing, I was still able to focus on what I have to do, stuff like that.
So it was stressful, but at the same time, I think it was good too. I had a really busy summer so it was good to take some time off, I guess.
JOSH LEWENBERG: Thanks, Yuta. Congrats again.
YUTA WATANABE: Thank you.
PHIL: We'll go to William Lou from Sportsnet.
WILLIAM LOU: Hey, Yuta. Welcome back.
YUTA WATANABE: Thank you.
WILLIAM LOU: During your injury, were there teammates who were in your ear trying to support you and just help you along? Because obviously, the mental aspect of when you're out is also very frustrating, and obviously, athletes are the ones who can really relate to that.
YUTA WATANABE: Yeah. They always talk to me like, no rush, take some time, and stuff like that. So I kind of wanted to come back all year, like at the start, if possible. But they made sure that I don't force anything, where I don't really push myself. So all day they always communicating with me and that make me calm down a little bit. So I really appreciate what they have done for me the last about a couple of months.
WILLIAM LOU: And I want to ask you about the block you made in the fourth quarter that was initially called a foul but then Nick challenged the play and got into it. I mean, I don't want to bring up bad stuff, but you had had some plays at the rim before. Obviously, the last two with Anthony Edwards. But you continue to make these challenges. And what does that say about your mentality defensively?
YUTA WATANABE: I told you guys I jump any time. If I have the chance 100 times, I jump 100 times. That's what I do. And I mean, thank God coach challenged the call and we won, so. But that's something I can bring to the team, hustle, energy, stuff like that. So if I have more chance in the future, I definitely jump in a game. And no matter what happens, I'm going to just keep hustling, keep bringing energy to the team.
WILLIAM LOU: All right. Welcome back, Yuta.
YUTA WATANABE: Thank you.
PHIL: Thanks, William. Last question in English goes to Adam from the Daily Hive.
ADAM LASKARIS: Hey, I'm just wondering, a lot of fans have been eagerly anticipating your return, both in Toronto and abroad. What's your message to those fans that have been monitoring those injury updates every day and waiting for your return? And with your big return to Toronto, as well.
YUTA WATANABE: Yeah. I just want to say, thank you for showing some love, even though I wasn't playing. I was able to feel the fans showing some love. So I'm excited to go back to Toronto and play in front of amazing fans.
ADAM LASKARIS: All right. Thank you.
YUTA WATANABE: Thank you.
PHIL: Thanks very much, Adam. We'll go to Yoko from Sports Graphic Number.
YOKO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YOKO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YOKO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YOKO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YOKO: Oh.
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YOKO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YOKO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YOKO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE]. Thank you.
PHIL: Thanks very much. We'll go to Akiko next.
AKIKO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
AKIKO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
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AKIKO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
AKIKO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE] very much. Thank you very much.
PHIL: We'll go to Takeshi next.
TAKESHI: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
TAKESHI: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
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YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
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YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
TAKESHI: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: Yeah.
TAKESHI: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
TAKESHI: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
- We'll go to Tsukai next.
TSUKAI: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: You'll have to wait. It's everything in Japanese, so.
JEN: I know, right?
YUTA WATANABE: Yeah.
JEN: [INAUDIBLE].
YUTA WATANABE: Yeah. [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
TSUKAI: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: Hi.
TSUKAI: Hi. [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
TSUKAI: Hi. [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
TSUKAI: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
TSUKAI: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
PHIL: Thanks very much. Last one for you tonight, Yuta, goes to Rio.
RIO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
RIO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
RIO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE] we will talk about it. [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
RIO: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
YUTA WATANABE: [SPEAKING JAPANESE].
PHIL: Thanks very much.
YUTA WATANABE: Thank you.
PHIL: Thanks very much. Have a good night.
YUTA WATANABE: Thank you.
