Yuki Kawamura, the little point guard who is surprising the NBA

The NBA has always been the land of giants, the place where humans of almost incomprehensible proportions do incredible things. However, every so often, players with completely opposite attributes touch down and triumph in the best basketball league in the world.

That’s exactly what happened in the 80s when towering Sudanese-American center Manute Bol (2.29 meters) and Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player ever to play in the NBA (1.68m - 5 ft 3 in), were teammates at the Washington Bullets. And the same thing is happening now with two rookies from the Memphis Grizzlies: Zach Edey (2.24m) and Yuki Kawamura (1.73m).

The Japanese guard left an impression on basketball fans at last summer’s World Cup in Japan. He averaged almost 14 points per game, peaking at 25 in the first round match against Finland. Kawamura spent the past five seasons with the Yokohama B-Corsairs in the Japanese B.League, where he was named the Most Valuable Player in 2022-23

Kawamura walking in Memphis

His great performances with his national team and his ability to break records in the Japanese league, where he played for the Yokohama B-Corsairs, led him to join the Memphis Grizzlies an a temporary contract last month.

“I have to look in the mirror and play with conviction every day. I know that at any moment they can release me,” the Japanese player admitted to the media. This mentality is what led him to stand out since he played for his high school, the Fukuoka Daiichi, with which he won two national championships in a row.

Kawamura is standing out for his passing ability, which curiously is the complete opposite of his role in Japan. Among the almost five assists he has given out per game, some end up going viral on social media, as happened in the game between the Grizzlies and the Pacers in Indiana. The Japanese guard received the ball at the three-point line slightly off-center and, after trying to get past his defender and penetrate, he slung over a no-look pass to Edey, his giant teammate.

Up until this weekend, Kawamura-san was on a temporary contract but in the month and a half he has spent in Memphis, he has impressed enough for the Grizzlies to promote him, handing him a two-way contract that will allow him to combine the Memphis Hustle development league team with the NBA.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed but such arrangements are usually for one or two years. NBA teams have a maximum of slots allocated for players on two-way contracts. Players signed to two-way contracts are paid one salary for their time in both leagues and may be active for up to 50 games with their NBA team.

The last vacant spot on the first team roster, following the retirement of Derrick Rose, has been filled by the son of an illustrious player, Scottie Pippen Jr..