Yuki Kawamura
![]() Kawamura with the Yokohama B-Corsairs in 2021 | |
No. 8 – Chicago Bulls | |
---|---|
Position | Point guard |
League | NBA |
Personal information | |
Born | Yanai, Yamaguchi, Japan | 2 May 2001
Listed height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
Listed weight | 159 lb (72 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Fukuoka Daiichi (Fukuoka, Fukuoka) |
College | Tokai University |
NBA draft | 2023: undrafted |
Playing career | 2019–present |
Career history | |
2020 | San-en NeoPhoenix |
2020–2024 | Yokohama B-Corsairs |
2024–2025 | Memphis Grizzlies |
2024–2025 | →Memphis Hustle |
2025–present | Chicago Bulls |
2025–present | →Windy City Bulls |
Career highlights | |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball Reference |
Yuki Kawamura (河村 勇輝, Kawamura Yūki) (born 2 May 2001) is a Japanese professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. He also plays for the Japan national team, with whom he played at the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics. Standing 5'8" tall, he is currently the shortest player in the NBA.[1]
High school career
[edit]Born in Yanai, Yamaguchi,[2] Kawamura idolized Yuki Togashi when growing up, as the professional and national team player excelled despite being a relatively short player, at 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in).[3] Kawamura played for Fukuoka Daiichi High School and led them to back-to-back All-Japanese High School championships.[4]
Professional career
[edit]San-en NeoPhoenix (2020)
[edit]As a high schooler, Kawamura started his career under special designated player status with the San-en NeoPhoenix in January 2020.[2] In his first game, Kawamura became the youngest player in B.League history at only 18 years of age.[5] He later also became the youngest player to score in a B.League game.[4]
Yokohama B-Corsairs (2020–2024)
[edit]During the offseason, Kawamura moved to Yokohama to join the Yokohama B-Corsairs, still under special designation. Enrolling at Tokai University,[6] he left school to go pro at the beginning of the 2022–23 season. He immediately made an impact, winning the B.League's MVP award. In addition, with the B-Corsairs, he won Rookie of the Year and made the Best Five team.[7][8]
Memphis Grizzlies (2024–2025)
[edit]On 6 September 2024, Kawamura signed with the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association[9] and on 19 October, his training camp deal was converted into a two-way contract.[10] On 14 October 2024, Kawamura scored a career-high 10 points and passed for seven assists in a 120–116 win against the Indiana Pacers.[11]
Chicago Bulls (2025–present)
[edit]Kawamura joined the Chicago Bulls for the 2025 NBA Summer League. On 19 July 2025, he signed a two-way contract with the Bulls.[12]
National team career
[edit]Kawamura played for the Japan men's national under-16 team at the 2017 FIBA U16 Asian Championships. In six games, Kawamura averaged 5.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.[13]
Kawamura made his Japan men's national basketball team debut in the 2023 World Cup qualifiers against Taiwan.[14] In a 89–49 victory, Kawamura recorded zero points, three rebounds, eight assists and five steals.[15] Kawamura played six more qualifier games for Japan and averaged 10.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.7 steals.[16]
Kawamura represented Japan at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.[17] Kawamura was an important contributor in Japan's 98–88 upset victory over Finland, as he accumulated 25 points, nine assists, and one rebound in Japan's first victory over a European team.[18][19] In all five games, Kawamura averaged 13.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 7.6 assists.[20]
The following year, Kawamura represented Japan at the 2024 Olympics. In the second game, they narrowly lost to France 94–90 in overtime, and Kawamura scored a career-high 29 points, with seven rebounds and six assists in the effort.[21] In three games played, Kawamura averaged 20.3 points, 7.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds.[22]
Career statistics
[edit]GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024–25 | Memphis | 22 | 0 | 4.2 | .367 | .304 | .778 | .5 | .9 | .1 | .0 | 1.6 |
Career | 22 | 0 | 4.2 | .367 | .304 | .778 | .5 | .9 | .1 | .0 | 1.6 |
References
[edit]- ^ Molski • •, Max (27 June 2024). "Who is the shortest NBA player right now and of all time?". NBC New York. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ a b Lohani, Suruchi. "With unwavering support from his parents, Yuki Kawamura rises to become one of the NBA's renowned players". Superstar Basketball. Superstar Basketball.
- ^ "Yuki Kawamura: Japan's next great XS-sized guard from Yuki Togashi". FIBA.basketball. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ a b "How is high-school star Yuki Kawamura playing in Japan's professional B.League?". FIBA.basketball. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ Irie, Mikio (26 January 2020). "河村勇輝がB1デビュー戦で存在感を発揮。富樫勇樹はチーム掌握力に舌を巻いた". バスケットボールキング (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ^ "Pro-bound Yuki Kawamura has a lofty goal on his mind with Akatsuki Five". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "の表彰結果 ~横浜ビー・コルセアーズ 河村勇輝選手がB.LEAGUE史上初・MVPと新人賞をダブル受賞!~" [B.League Award Show 2022-23 results]. B.LEAGUE(Bリーグ)公式サイト (in Japanese). 2 June 2023. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ^ "COLUMN: What awaits Kawamura after signing Exhibit 10 Grizzlies contract". Spin.ph. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Grizzlies sign Armando Bacot, Yuki Kawamura, Miye Oni, and Maozinha Pereira". NBA.com. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Grizzlies promote Yuki Kawamura to two-way contract". Memphis Grizzlies. NBA.
- ^ "Edey shines in victory". NBA. NBA.com.
- ^ "Bulls sign Yuki Kawamura to Two-Way contract". NBA.com. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ "Yuki Kawamura in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup". FIBA Basketball. FIBA.
- ^ "Yuki Kawamura". FIBA Basketball. FIBA.
- ^ "1st Round". FIBA Basketball. FIBA.
- ^ "Yuki Kawarmura in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers". FIBA Basketball. FIBA.
- ^ "Hachimura, Watanabe and Kawamura top 25-man list of Japan candidates for World Cup". FIBA Basketball. FIBA.
- ^ McNicol, Andrew. "Japan in tears after first ever win against European team in FIBA World Cup". CNN.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ^ "Japan vs. Finland". FIBA. FIBA Basketball.
- ^ "Yuki Kawamura at the FIBA Basketball World Cup". FIBA Basketball. FIBA.
- ^ "Kawamura: Meet the man who almost stunned host France". FIBA.basketball. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Yuki Kawamura". Paris 2024. FIBA.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from NBA.com · Basketball Reference
- 2001 births
- Living people
- 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup players
- 21st-century Japanese sportsmen
- Basketball players at the 2024 Summer Olympics
- Japanese expatriate basketball people in the United States
- Japanese men's basketball players
- Memphis Grizzlies players
- Memphis Hustle players
- NBA players from Japan
- Olympic basketball players for Japan
- Point guards
- San-en NeoPhoenix players
- Sportspeople from Yamaguchi Prefecture
- Undrafted NBA players
- Yokohama B-Corsairs players