Yuki Kawamura

Yuki Kawamura
河村 勇輝
Kawamura with the Yokohama B-Corsairs in 2021
Free agent
PositionPoint guard
Personal information
Born (2001-05-02) 2 May 2001
Yanai, Yamaguchi, Japan
Listed height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Listed weight159 lb (72 kg)
Career information
High schoolFukuoka Daiichi
(Fukuoka, Fukuoka)
CollegeTokai University
NBA draft2023: undrafted
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2020San-en NeoPhoenix
2020–2024Yokohama B-Corsairs
2024–2025Memphis Grizzlies
2024–2025→Memphis Hustle
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 who last played for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Memphis Hustle 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

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

San-en NeoPhoenix (2020)

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)

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)

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 October 14, 2024, Kawamura scored a career-high 10 points and passed for 7 assists in a 120–116 win against the Indiana Pacers.[11] Kawamura joined the Chicago Bulls for the 2025 NBA Summer League.

National team career

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.[12]

Kawamura made his Japan men's national basketball team debut in the 2023 World Cup qualifiers against Taiwan.[13] In a 89-49 victory, Kawamura recorded 0 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals.[14] Kawamura played six more qualifier games for Japan and averaged 10.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.7 steals.[15]

Kawamura represented Japan at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.[16] Kawamura was an important contributor in Japan's 98-88 upset victory over Finland, as he accumulated 25 points, 9 assists, and 1 rebound in Japan's first victory over a European team.[17][18] In all five games, Kawamura averaged 13.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 7.6 assists.[19]

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 7 rebounds and 6 assists in the effort.[20] In three games played, Kawamura averaged 20.3 points, 7.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds.[21]

Career statistics

Legend
  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

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

  1. ^ Molski • •, Max (27 June 2024). "Who is the shortest NBA player right now and of all time?". NBC New York. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Yuki Kawamura: Japan's next great XS-sized guard from Yuki Togashi". FIBA.basketball. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Pro-bound Yuki Kawamura has a lofty goal on his mind with Akatsuki Five". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "COLUMN: What awaits Kawamura after signing Exhibit 10 Grizzlies contract". Spin.ph. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Grizzlies sign Armando Bacot, Yuki Kawamura, Miye Oni, and Maozinha Pereira". NBA.com. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Grizzlies promote Yuki Kawamura to two-way contract". Memphis Grizzlies. NBA.
  11. ^ "Edey shines in victory". NBA. NBA.com.
  12. ^ "Yuki Kawamura in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup". FIBA Basketball. FIBA.
  13. ^ "Yuki Kawamura". FIBA Basketball. FIBA.
  14. ^ "1st Round". FIBA Basketball. FIBA.
  15. ^ "Yuki Kawarmura in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers". FIBA Basketball. FIBA.
  16. ^ "Hachimura, Watanabe and Kawamura top 25-man list of Japan candidates for World Cup". FIBA Basketball. FIBA.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Japan vs. Finland". FIBA. FIBA Basketball.
  19. ^ "Yuki Kawamura at the FIBA Basketball World Cup". FIBA Basketball. FIBA.
  20. ^ "Kawamura: Meet the man who almost stunned host France". FIBA.basketball. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  21. ^ "Yuki Kawamura". Paris 2024. FIBA.
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