When the Memphis Grizzlies signed Japanese star Yuki Kawamura to a two-way contract, the expectation was he would spend more time in the G-league developing his skills. But it turns out, he might be stuck in no man’s land. He might be too good for the G-League, but not up to the level of the NBA right now.
Yuki Kawamura Might be Too Good for the G-League
Last week, Kawamura had one of the finest games in his career, dishing out 16 assists and scoring 15 points as the Memphis Hustle beat the Osceola Magic 123-118. He paced the team in assists, yet struggled to get his shot working from the field.
Still, that game was a major improvement for the Japanese player, who had only seven points in his Memphis Hustle debut.
While many would expect Yuki to build on his amazing performance, it seems like he won’t get as much playing time with the Memphis Hustle.
In the two games since, Yuki has not played a single minute for the Hustle. The Grizzlies’ G-League affiliate had two home games this weekend, a loss to the Osceola Magic and a win against the Texas Legends. Yuki didn’t play in either of them. When will we see Kawamura in the G League again?
Why Didn’t Yuki Play?
There is no explanation for why Yuki didn’t play for the Memphis Hustle over the weekend. He was inactive on the main Memphis Grizzlies roster as well. The Grizzlies played in Chicago, in a game in which Scotty Pippen Jr. scored 30 points, but Yuki was inactive and didn’t get a single minute.
The Hustle played two games at home, at Landers Center in the city of Southaven, Mississippi, meaning Yuki could have appeared in one of those.
Yuki Becomes a Fan Favorite
There is no information on when Yuki will play for the Memphis Hustle or the Memphis Grizzlies. For now, he continues to practice with the team and wait for his chance.
Two-Way @memgrizz guard and Japanese star Yuki Kawamura was ELECTRIC for the @MemphisHustle on Wednesday afternoon, dropping an eye-popping 16 assists to go along with his 15 points in leading the way to a win at home over the Osceola Magic. pic.twitter.com/gyH4gcp6WL
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) November 20, 2024
One thing is certain, he is becoming a fan favorite. Whenever he appears on the floor, the fans are cheering for him. And with his passing skills, Yuki is turning heads. Not many players can do the things he does with his passing. In his first game with the Memphis Hustle, he threw an alley-op pass from half-court. He is definitely sensational, it is just a matter of time when he will get his chance.
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Is Yuki Good Enough for the NBA?
Before moving to the NBA, Yuki played with the Yokohoma B-Corsairs of the Japanese B. League. Playing pro at the beginning of the 2022-23 season, Yuki made an immediate impact. He won the B. League’s MVP award.
During the Paris 2024 Olympics, Yuki was one of the best players on the Japanese squad. While the team didn’t move past the group stage, Kawamura showed his skills against the home team France. With a stat line of 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, he joined Kevin Durant and Luol Deng as the third player in Olympic history to pose a 25/5/5 line in a game.
All that says is that he is good enough to be a professional basketball player. The Memphis Grizzlies players love him around, but the team has too many guards for him to crack the rotation for the foreseeable future. The Memphis Hustle have two more games remaining in November, against the Oklahoma City Blue at home, and against Birmingham Squadron away. We have to wait and see when Kawamura will play in the G League.
