Go Tokyo Your Experience
Japanese guard Yuki Kawamura officially signed a two-way contract with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies today, potentially becoming the fourth Japanese player in history to step onto the NBA stage, and also the shortest player currently in the NBA.
Yuki Kawamura started playing basketball at the age of 6. Despite being only 172 cm tall, he compensated for his height disadvantage with exceptional speed. At the age of 18, he joined the B.League, Japan’s professional basketball league, as a “designated special player,” making him the youngest player in the league’s history. He quickly rose to prominence and was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title.
At this year’s Paris Olympics, Yuki Kawamura performed excellently, even coming close to leading the Japanese team to victory against the host nation, France. In September, he signed an “Exhibit 10” contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, hoping to make the season roster and fulfill his dream of challenging the NBA. Without any translation assistance, Kawamura worked hard to integrate into the team and shared the court with star point guard Ja Morant, leading to widespread discussions about their interesting interactions. Recently, he showcased impressive assists in warm-up games, ultimately gaining the Grizzlies’ recognition, and both parties signed a two-way contract, causing a positive reaction. Morant also shared a photo of Kawamura on social media, warmly welcoming his new teammate.
It is worth mentioning that through a two-way contract, Yuki Kawamura has the opportunity to participate in NBA games. If he successfully steps onto the NBA stage, he will not only become the shortest player currently in the league, but also the fourth Japanese player to achieve this after Yuta Tabuse, Yuta Watanabe, and Rui Hachimura, and the first player to successfully challenge the NBA from Japan’s B.League.