Saturday was a win for the short kings, as the Chicago Bulls have agreed to sign 5-foot-8 point guard Yuki Kawamura to a two-way contract, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Bulls Sign Yuki Kawamura After Special Summer League
A Japanese expatriate, Kawamura was well on his way to being an NBA fan favorite before he even joined the league. Following a standout performance for his home country’s national basketball team in the Paris Olympics, he soon signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. The combination of his popularity and that of the Ja Morant-led Grizzlies allowed a surreal atmosphere to surround him throughout the season. Unfortunately for Kawamura, he was unable to extend his stay in The Volunteer State.
Japanese guard Yuki Kawamura has agreed to a two-way NBA deal with the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN. Bulls finalized the deal with Kawamura’s agents at Wasserman to sign the 5-foot-8 point guard amid a strong summer league. pic.twitter.com/pBYWIwxXz3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 19, 2025
Unimpressively, the 24-year-old averaged just 1.6 points and 0.9 assists per game in 2024-25, shooting 36.7 percent from the field and 30.4 percent from 3.
However, in a pair of April outings, Kawamura averaged 6.0 points and 2.5 assists in 14.8 minutes per game while shooting 42.9 percent from 3. Furthermore, he was solid on his G League assignments. In 24 games (all starts), he averaged 12.4 points, 7.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 41.0 percent from 3.
What Does He Bring To The Windy City?
Kawamura’s relatively diminutive size can be a hindrance, as was expected. Nevertheless, he’s a quick and confident knockdown outside shooter with excellent passing ability. These traits were on full display for the Bulls during the Las Vegas Summer League.
20 PTS 🇯🇵 10 AST 🇯🇵 6 3PM
Yuki Kawamura ended Summer League with a BANG! His huge double-double off the bench propelled the @chicagobulls to victory over the Jazz. #NBASummer pic.twitter.com/GqMuOR5efT
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) July 19, 2025
In those five games, Kawamura averaged 9.6 points, 6.6 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. He also shot 39.1 percent from 3.
© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
