Guard Yuki Kawamura signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, becoming the first Japanese player from the country’s B-League with a chance to make his National Basketball Association debut in the United States.
Yuki Kawamura of the Memphis Grizzlies brings the ball up court during a game against the Charlotte Hornets in Memphis, Tennessee, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Getty/Kyodo)
Memphis will begin the new season Wednesday against the Utah Jazz and the 23-year-old is in line to become the fourth Japanese player to make an NBA debut after Yuta Tabuse in 2004 with the Phoenix Suns, Yuta Watanabe in 2018 with Memphis, a two-way contract at the time, and Rui Hachimura in 2019 with the Washington Wizards.
A Yamaguchi Prefecture native, Kawamura signed an Exhibit 10 training camp contract in early September with the Grizzlies that could be converted to a two-way contract, which allows him to split time between the team and its developmental G League affiliate.
The 173-centimeter guard was a standout both at the World Cup co-hosted by Japan last year and at this summer’s Paris Olympics, where he averaged 20.3 points and 7.7 assists.
Kawamura maintained his strong form during the preseason with Memphis, averaging around 15 minutes on the court with 3.4 points and 4.2 assists after playing in all five games.
Kawamura made his B-League debut with San-en Neophoenix in 2020 before signing his first professional contract with Yokohama B-Corsairs in 2022, winning both the B-League top-tier MVP and Rookie of the Year in the 2022-23 season.
Rated highly for his agility and game-reading ability, Kawamura will be one of the smallest players in the NBA, according to U.S. media.
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