This week at the 2019 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies landed perhaps their most popular player in Ja Morant, a promising point guard oozing of superstar potential. As he attempted to carry his jersey number of 12 from Murray State to the professional ranks, one person stood in his way. Yuta Watanabe was the roadblock.
Watanabe held the number 12 for the 2018-19 NBA season for the Grizzlies as he bounced to and from the G-League’s Memphis Hustle. He donned the Grizzly uniform in the major league NBA on 15 occasions. Yuta was just the sixth player in Grizzlies franchise history to wear number 12.