The NBA announced on Wednesday that this year’s rosters featured a record-tying 125 international players and while he is only 5-foot-8, Japanese guard Yuki Kawamura is already making a big impact in Memphis.

In fact, fresh off being signed to a two-way contract by the Grizzlies, the Japanese rookie is quickly emerging as a fan favourite.

Kawamura averaged 3.4 points with 4.2 assists in 15.1 minutes over five preseason games, going 4-for-16 from deep while providing plenty of highlights with his no-look passes.

Kawamura is the shortest player in the NBA this season and, according to ESPN research, is just the ninth player standing at 5-foot-8 or shorter to play in the league since 1976.

The 23-year-old previously played for the Yokohama B-Corsairs in the Japanese B1 League for the last four years, averaging 20.9 points per game and a league-leading 8.0 assists.

While Kawamura may start the season with the Grizzlies’ G League affiliate, the Hustle, Memphis has the flexibility to promote him to its active roster throughout the season should it see the need to do so — be it because of injuries or strong play from Kawamura.

 

“I won a two-way contract much faster than I imagined,” Kawamura said.

“I’m really happy. Whether it’s with the Hustle or Grizzlies, I want to help the team win. I want to show that you don’t have to be big to play in the NBA. I want to make it.”

Teammate Marcus Smart said Kawamura “brings a uniqueness to the game that you can’t teach”.

“He uses everything in his skill set to his advantage. Being that small, sometimes you don’t even see him. He comes out of nowhere.”

Speaking to international media on Wednesday ahead of the season-opener, the NBA’s deputy commissioner, Mark Tatum, said Kawamura’s rapid rise has been “incredible” to watch.

“He has got this energy about him,” Tatum said.

“He’s a great shooter… the feedback on him is if he’s open, he’s going to make the shot. I think the great thing about the game of basketball is you can have a player like him competing against a player like Victor Wembanyama and I think today’s game too, where shooting is really valuable, that enables him to compete in this league and to get signed by an NBA team and to a two-way contract.

“I go back to the style of play… you can look to a guy like Steph Curry, who’s not that big of a guy, but he works hard. He competes. He can shoot. He plays the great fundamentals of the game and we that same set of skills with him as well. I got to see him play in person and I think he will be an impactful NBA player.”

Tatum mentioned Wembanyama and a photo of the towering 7-foot-3 French phenom and Kawamura actually went viral earlier in the year when the pair played against each other at the Paris Olympics.