The Memphis Grizzlies are certainly looking to fulfill all the wishes, dreams, and goals they couldn’t get to last season, this time. With their star player suspended and then out for the season with an injury, and the rest of the team also going in and out with injuries, the Grizzlies had it tough. But no more. And to help them, Memphis decided to look outside the States. Who did they find? A Japanese phenom by the name of Yuki Kawamura.

By now, nearly everyone would have at least heard the name, given that the Grizzlies had just signed him to an Exhibit 10 contract. But perhaps the moment this 23-year-old intrigued everyone was during the Paris Olympics. Yup, Kawamura was part of the Japan team in France. After all, it was all he ate, breathed, and slept for the past two years.

Everyone who tuned in to the Group B France vs Japan matchup would have watched a tiny figure, zooming and streaking through a group of big bodies. It can almost make one wonder just how this 5’8, 159-pound guard ended up in one of the most elite international sports tournaments. And that too in a sport that calls for an average height of 6’6.5″.

You could say that’s the average height stipulation for the NBA. Alright, what about the average height of a Japanese basketball player? The Japanese roster for the Paris Olympics had an average height of 6’3″. Clearly, Yuki Kawamura is no traditional hooper. But what he lacks in height and size, the young guard makes up for in speed. But that’s just one aspect of how he came to represent his country in the Olympics and, by extension, take his talents internationally.

Yuki Kawamura worked with a specific goal in mind

Back in 2022, Kawamura had told FIBA his plan for the next two years. Why just two years? The Olympics was in two years, silly. Oh right, I didn’t mention that, did I? “My goal is to become a point guard representing Japan and compete in the Paris Olympics in two years,” the B.League MVP said. But that’s just the short version. To fully understand the kind of work ethic of the then-21-year-old, you might want to read his complete explanation.

“Now in my third season as a special designated player, I decided that I wanted to go professional. The main reason is the Olympics two years from now, and although two years is a short period, I wanted to gain as much experience as possible and gain as much knowledge as possible. After thinking about how I could get closer to that goal, I came to this decision,” as per Basket Count and translated via Google Translate.

The ‘special designated players’ provision allows hoopers to play in the professional ranks of the B.League while still registering with their affiliation in their schools or universities. However, what Yuki did, drop out of university to focus completely on going professional was very rare. But Japan already knew what this diminutive guard was capable of.

He had already made a name for himself since his days at Fukuoka Daiichi High School. And if there was anyone from their country who could make waves on the international stage, it was Kawamura. And that was exactly what he did.

In the company of France’s big men like unanimous ROTY, Victor Wembanyama and 4x DPOY, Rudy Gobert, Yuki Kawamura nearly led them on a wild-goose chase after Rui Hachimura got ejected in the fourth quarter. The first quarter saw him drop 10 points while dishing out two assists. And everyone who thought the Japanese men would dismantle with Hachimura’s exit did not account for Kawamura.

He quietly took over, either scoring or assisting in their 12 points. And when it looked like it wasn’t enough, Yuki stepped up his game, scoring another three in the OT. However, they had to admit defeat ultimately. But by the end of it, the B.League ROTY made sure the basketball world recognized his name.

Kawamura believes in defying the odds

How else would you define the success that the ex-San-en NeoPhoenix player has received? But one thing to keep in mind is that this was no coincidence. Every milestone that Yuki Kawamura has achieved was by design, a career path he meticulously built. But he had his muse – another 31-year-old small-sized guard, Yuki Togashi.

In fact, a major aspect of his rise to stardom in his home country was his brilliant performances against Togashi. Take, for example, the March 2022 game against Chiba Jets led by Togashi. The Yokohama B-Corsairs hadn’t won a matchup against the Jets for five years. But under Kawamura’s leadership, the Corsairs broke that record when Yuki stole the ball from the East Asia Super League Finals MVP in the final seconds.

Just Kawamura doing the usual. There’s no doubt that the Grizzlies have got themselves a gem. However, how much game time he would get in his time with Memphis is up for debate. All he needs, though, is an opening. For now, he is intent on taking complete advantage of the opportunity presented to him. And to stay original, too.

“I want to keep my style and aim for things that only a small player can do, and play with aggressive speed. I want to play in a way that gives hope, dreams, and goals not only to small children and basketball fans but to many people in Japan.”