On Saturday, NBA history was made and it played in favor of the Memphis Grizzlies. It involved rookie two-way contractual player Yuta Watanabe at the 4:31 mark in the fourth quarter.
With the Grizzlies securing a large lead, it was time to empty the bench. Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff called the name of Watanabe, who became just the second Japanese player to check into an NBA game.
Eerily enough, the first Japanese player — Yuta Tabuse in the 2004-05 season — was a member of the Phoenix Suns, who was the Grizzlies’ opponent in Saturday’s matchup.