From the moment Yuki Kawamura first strolled into the FedExForum locker room, his diminutive 5’8″ frame belied a titan’s heart. The Japanese point guard, who carved his name into Grizzlies lore, has always been more than a teammate for Memphis star Ja Morant.
As Kawamura embarks on the next leg of his journey in Las Vegas this July, his brother-in-arms Morant sent one final, unforgettable farewell message that captured their bond.
Ja Morant Bids Adieu to Yuki Kawamura as He Chases NBA Dream
Kawamura’s free‑agency status arrived after a 2024-25 campaign split between limited NBA minutes and starring turns in the G League. In 22 appearances for Memphis, he averaged 1.6 points across 4.2 minutes per game. With the Memphis Hustle, he exploded for 12.4 points and 7.8 assists in 24 outings, clinching a selection to the NBA G League Next Up Game.
While showing flashes of brilliance in the Grizzlies jersey and becoming a fan-favorite, Kawamura secured his next chapter: a spot on the Chicago Bulls’ Summer League roster set to tip off July 10 in Las Vegas. For Kawamura, that opportunity represents more than a chance to score a full‑scale NBA contract. It’s a platform to showcase the intangibles that endeared him to Grizzlies teammates and fed an online following spanning continents.
Late on July 3, Morant distilled that moment of transition into three simple words. Posting on X, he wrote, “yukiX12 dont die.”
yukiX12 dont die
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) July 3, 2025
Internationally, Kawamura has donned the Japanese jersey at both the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He spent the last five campaigns (2019-24) dominating Japan’s B.League. This earned him the league MVP honors in 2022-23, after starting all 56 games for Yokohama and averaging 20.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists over 30.6 minutes per outing.
His Memphis Grizzlies contract carried the 24-year-old across the Pacific and thrust him into a league dominated by giants. But if height is the obvious metric, heart was Kawamura’s defining stat.
Off the court, Morant and Kawamura’s friendship which blended mentorship with brotherhood, became a fan-favorite amongst the Memphis fanbase. Moreover, Morant’s daughter was reportedly seen cheering for Kawamura during one of his G League games in March 2025.
Kawamura Joins Chicago Bulls’ Summer League Roster
For the Chicago Bulls, Kawamura adds a sparkplug playmaker to a Summer League roster headlined by draft picks and two-way hopefuls. This includes No. 11 pick Matas Buzelis (2024), No. 12 pick Noa Essengue (2025), No. 55 pick Lachlan Olbrich (2025), and Jahmir Young, among others.
Kawamura’s opponents will soon see how a pint-sized guard can orchestrate an offense with skilled footwork and a fearless approach to playmaking. And if Kawamura’s past is any indicator, he’ll find ways to surprise, even if it means outpacing defenders twice his size.
The Chicago Bulls have signed Japanese star and 5’8 point guard Yuki Kawamura to an E10 contract, who will join the Bulls for NBA Summer League. pic.twitter.com/X8WQaPJr8m
— BullsMuse (@BullsMuse_) July 3, 2025
The Bulls kick off Summer League action with back‑to‑back matchups. They’ll take on the Toronto Raptors on July 11 and the Sacramento Kings on July 12, both airing live on NBA TV.
Following this, Chicago will meet the Indiana Pacers on July 14 on ESPNU, then will square off against the Milwaukee Bucks on July 16 on ESPN2. A fifth contest will be slotted based on each team’s win‑loss record, with the top four squads moving on to a playoff bracket scheduled for July 19–20.
