The Memphis Grizzlies have announced that they have promoted guard Yuki Kawamura to a contract for the upcoming NBA season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Kawamura, a 23-year-old of 173 cm (the shortest player in the category) convinced in five preseason games as a reserve for the Grizzlies, averaging 3.4 points and 4.2 assists in 15.1 minutes after initially signing with Memphis on September 6th.
Unselected in the 2023 NBA Draft, Kawamura has competed the past five seasons (2019-24) in the Japanese B.League, where he was named the 2022-23 Most Valuable Player with the Yokohama B-Corsairs. The 23-year-old started all 56 games for Yokohama last season and averaged 20.9 points and 8.0 assists in 30.6 minutes to earn a second consecutive selection in the B.League’s Best Five team.
Kawamura represented Japan at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he had 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists to help Japan take France to overtime on July 30.
– Photo: Ipa Agency –
