Veteran NBA forward Nassir Little will play overseas for the first time during the 2025/26 season, having signed a one-year contract with the Chiba Jets, according to a press release from the Japanese team.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to help the Chiba Jets win a championship!” Little said in a statement relayed by the club. “I know some of the players on the team and I’ve been to Japan for vacation so I really look forward to this experience. I’ve heard Chiba is a great club with a great new arena and great fans. I look forward to meeting everyone and I’m excited to have a great season!”
The 25th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft out of UNC, Little spent the first four years of his NBA career with Portland before being traded to Phoenix during the 2023 offseason as part of the three-team Damian Lillard/Jrue Holiday blockbuster. After a single season with the Suns, he was waived and spent the 2024/25 campaign with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s G League affiliate.
In 237 career NBA regular season games, Little has averaged 5.5 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .452/.330/.735.
The 25-year-old was a solid rotation piece during his last couple seasons with the Blazers, but dealt with shoulder and abdominal injuries during that time, then struggled to make an impact for the Suns, registering averages of 3.4 PPG and 1.7 RPG in 10.2 MPG across 45 outings and making just 30.0% of his three-point shots.
Former NBA forward Yuta Watanabe, who played with Little in Phoenix, is perhaps the most familiar name on the Chiba Jets’ roster. The club competes in Japan’s top basketball league (the B.League).
Still getting paid by the Phoenix Suns. Little needs to learn to be a SG
Suns are going to be paying this dude $3 mil/yr for the next 6 years. What a steal!
Chiba has a stacked team
Contract terms have not yet been disclosed.
But based on the circumstances
Reasoning would indicate that;
It was a LITTLE Contract.
He gets a nice check from Phoenix each year and can be a big fish in a small pond for the next few years. Not bad at all.