The NBA is known as a league of giants. With the emergence of 7-foot unicorns like Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, the league is trending towards larger and more skilled players. The average height of an NBA player is around 6’ 6, and there have only been a handful of players under 6’ 0, let alone those who have had a successful career. Undersized guards like Allen Iverson or Chris Paul have shown that this is possible, but these are truly rare instances – almost one in a million. 

However, during the NBA preseason from October 4th to October 18th, a small 5’ 8 Japanese player on the Memphis Grizzlies caught everyone’s attention. Yuki Kawamura, a 23-year old from Yamaguchi, Japan, was knocking down three-pointers and dropping no-look dimes, creating a frenzy amongst fans who drew comparisons to NBA legend Magic Johnson. With only 0.4% of NBA players being Asian and approximately 0.6% of players this season being under 6’ 0, the odds were stacked against him as high as one could imagine. But Kawamura’s rise is not just another rookie making some noise: it symbolizes the globalization of the sport and the triumph of skill over size. 

Before coming to the league, Kawamura was a star back in Japan. After leading his high school to two consecutive championships, he became the youngest player to join the B. League at just 18 years old.  Kawamura would then go on to become the only player in B. League history to win both Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same year. At the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Kawamura helped Japan to pull off a historic upset against Finland by putting up 25 points with 15 of them coming from the fourth quarter alone. 

Thanks to Kawamura’s heroic efforts, Japan qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was on this stage where he was determined to prove that he could compete against the best in the world. Despite failing to make it past the group stages, Japan put up a formidable performance against star Victor Wembanyama and host nation France. The game went down to the wire, and Kawamura put up another historic performance to become just the third player in Olympic history alongside two-time NBA Champion Kevin Durant to record more than 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. 

This stellar play eventually caught the eye of the Memphis Grizzlies, who signed Kawamura to an Exhibit 10 Contract. This contract is usually reserved for players on the fringe of making the NBA, serving as a way for them to try out and earn a roster spot. However, Karamura quickly proved that he was more than just a developmental project. His combination of craftiness and incredible court vision quickly convinced the Grizzlies to convert him to a two-way contract, an elusive slot only available to three players on each team. 

Kawamura is not just surviving on the court – he is thriving. Despite his small stature, he strategically uses his speed and IQ to outmaneuver bigger opponents and set up teammates with ease. For every undersized player who dreams of making it to the NBA, Kawamura serves as a beacon of hope. He is proving to the world that with skill and perseverance, that it is possible to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. In a league filled with giants, the 5’ 8 guard from Japan is showing us that it’s not just about size: it’s about the heart and passion for the game.