Jarrett Culver is nearing a move to Japan, where he's close to joining the Sendai 89ers, sources tell BasketNews. The former Texas Tech standout was selected sixth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, part of a class that featured Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, and Darius Garland.
Jarrett Culver, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, is nearing a deal to continue his career in Japan, per BasketNews sources.
According to sources, the 26-year-old wing is in advanced talks to sign with the Sendai 89ers of Japan's B.League.
Culver, who stands 1.98 meters, appeared in 144 NBA games (43 starts) between 2019 and 2023, playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, and Atlanta Hawks.
He holds career averages of 6.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 17.2 minutes per game.
The 2019 NBA Draft saw players like Zion Williamson (1st), Ja Morant (2nd), RJ Barrett (3rd), Darius Garland (5th), Tyler Herro (13th), and Jordan Poole (28th) enter the league—Culver was selected sixth by the Phoenix Suns before his rights were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Dario Saric and the No. 11 pick.
He posted his best NBA numbers during his rookie season, averaging 9.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 24 minutes per game, including a career-high 26-point performance on January 18, 2020.
Culver's role diminished in his second year, averaging 5.3 points across 34 appearances.
He was later traded to Memphis in a 2021 offseason deal that also involved Juancho Hernangomez and Patrick Beverley.
His final NBA season came in 2022–23 with the Atlanta Hawks, where he averaged 4.4 points and 3.8 rebounds in limited minutes.
Since then, Culver has spent time in the G League.
With the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2023–24, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks.
In 2024–25, he played for the Osceola Magic, posting 13.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.7 blocks per game.
In Sendai, Culver is expected to join a roster that has recently featured former EuroCup and NBA players such as Cristiano Felicio, Stanton Kidd, and Nathan Boothe.
The club is also finalizing a deal with former Valencia center Boubacar Toure.
Donatas Urbonas
Donatas Urbonas is an award-winning Lithuanian basketball journalist, recognized as the best sports journalist in Lithuania in 2016 and the top basketball journalist in 2018. A Vilnius University journalism graduate, Urbonas has reported on major global sports events, including the Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 Olympics, FIBA World Cups, EuroBaskets, NBA Summer League, and NBA Draft.
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