It was a night that Yuki Kawamura will never forget. With two minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Japanese point guard stepped on the court to make his regular season debut for the Chicago Bulls, a side he has supported since he was a child. Playing against the Miami Heat, he immediately gave his team more impetus. Despite only being on the court for 11 minutes, he finished the game with six points, two assists and two steals as the Bulls won 125-118.
One of the most memorable moments in the game came when Kawamura, the shortest active player in the NBA at 170 centimeters, won the tip against 196-centimeter opponent Kasparas Jakučionis after forcing a jump ball. “He won the tap,” repeated the commentator who couldn’t believe what he’d seen. Recalling the moment, Kawamura said, “It was my first win since I started basketball. I’m so happy,” He added, “I’ve been a big Chicago Bulls fan my whole life. I’m so happy to be here.”
In his second game on Sunday, Kawamura played another 27 minutes. He finished the game with six points, six assists and six rebounds in his side’s 134-91 defeat to Miami. It was an impressive display in what was a disappointing night for the Bulls. “Yuki was the only bright spot for Chicago in the first half, four points, five assists, and four rebounds with just one turnover,” wrote Joshua Miranda for the Bleacher Nation. “Coming off his debut in the previous win, it looked like he didn’t miss a step at all.”
About Yuki Kawamura
A prodigious talent, Kawamura joined San-en NeoPhoenix as a high schooler. At the time, he was the youngest player in B.League history. He later joined the Yokohama B-Corsairs, winning the B.League MVP award in the 2022-23 season. Following standout performances for Japan at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kawamura moved to the States and earned a two-way contract at the Memphis Grizzlies, which meant he could appear in the NBA while also accumulating playing time in the G-League with the franchise’s affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.
In October 2024, Kawamura became the fourth Japanese player to feature in an NBA game. He made his debut against the Houston Rockets in October 2024. His best performance came six months later, when he scored 12 points against the Dallas Mavericks. He also finished the game with five rebounds and five assists, including a delightful no-look overhead pass right into the hands of Marvin Bagley III for an easy transition dunk. It was the final regular season match for the two teams, and Kawamura’s last NBA game for the Grizzlies.
The Yamaguchi Prefecture native joined the Bulls and was selected for the Las Vegas Summer League in July 2025. He impressed and was rewarded with a two-way contract, allowing him to also play for the Windy City Bulls in the G League. However, three months later, the franchise released him after he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lower right leg. He underwent the entirety of his recovery process with the Bulls medical team. Cleared to return to training, he was re-signed last month.
