Yuki Kawamura Rumors

As a two-way player, Kawamura splits his time between the NBA and the Windy City Bulls in the G League. In his rookie season with the Memphis Grizzlies, he earned $578,577, according to HoopsHype. Before coming to the NBA, Kawamura made around $2.5 million in Japan during the 2023-24 season, per Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.

BasketNews

The NBA has evolved, with smaller guards like Yuki Kawamura having some success. If you were coming up today, do you think your NBA chances would have been different? The Professor: Oh, absolutely. People now get a scholarship based on potential, so like your high school mixtape might get you a scholarship. There are a lot more outlets for exposure. I was a big secret. I was like completely unknown. Couldn't even get on the radar of hardly anybody. And then when I did, it's like I would show a lot of skill, a lot of talent, but I was so small that they're like, 'Well, how's he going to play defense?' So my high school mixtape would have been crazy. I think I would have had a better chance. I also think today's basketball business is much more entrepreneurial, like just in general it's much more open-minded and seizing all opportunities. I mean to think today, Bronny James can make the NBA, just a different time. Bronny's not making the NBA in the 90s, whether he's the son of LeBron or not; it's just not happening. Because look, if that's the case, Michael Jordan's kids should have been in the NBA. They were as good as Bronny; at least one of them was probably better than Bronny. So, even Jordan's kids couldn't make it. But nowadays, it's different. They go where the dollars are, marketability. When you think of AND1 and how popular it was, if it were like today, they probably would have had us in the league somehow, if anything, just to sell tickets. But yeah, I think my chances would have been better coming up in this era, just more exposure. But then again, I think the way it happened for me was the way it was supposed to happen. I'm just like a late bloomer. I went through puberty at a very late age.

HoopsHype

Mac McClung on Yuki Kawamura: He has an incredible fanbase that supports him How's it been like playing with Yuki Kawamura and getting into the grind of things after your brief stint with Indiana this year? Mac McClung: Yuki's the man. He is amazing. I love him, he's such a fun guy to play with in the backcourt. So unselfish, so talented, and he's really a good person too. So, it's just really been nice having him as a backcourt teammate and getting some of his nice dimes. It's been a lot of fun, I can't lie. And it's cool to see all the love people have for him. He has an incredible fanbase that supports him.

HoopsHype

KC Johnson: Yuki Kawamura: "I've been a big Chicago Bulls fan my whole life. I'm so happy to be here. I just wanted to bring energy." Kawamura on winning jump ball: "It was my first win since I started basketball. I'm so happy."

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KC Johnson: Kawamura on 4th-quarter minutes: "That feels so good. It was my first time playing in clutch time in the NBA. I felt so amazing. I got locked in."

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KC Johnson: Bulls 125, Heat 118 Shorthanded Bulls snap 3-game skid Monster game from Dosunmu and solid minutes from many, including Yuki Kawamura Dosunmu 29 pts, 9 assists, 8 rebs Okoro 20 pts

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K.C. Johnson: Yuki Kawamura: "Honestly, rehab wasn’t easy. It was a long way. I found out I had blood clot before the season started. Honestly, I felt really bad because I was super excited to play in Chicago. But I’m so happy to be here and super happy to be back on the court."

Twitter

K.C. Johnson: Donovan revealed for first time that the medical condition that sidelined Yuki Kawamura was a blood clot in lower right leg. Kawamura stayed in Chicago to rehab and re-signed on 2-way as soon as he was cleared

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Michael Scotto: The Chicago Bulls are signing Yuki Kawamura to a two-way contract, league sources told @hoopshype. Kawamura replaces Trentyn Flowers, who was just waived by Chicago.

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K.C. Johnson: For all the Yuki Kawamura fans out there—and judging from the preseason, there are a lot—he was in good spirits postgame chatting up former Memphis teammate Jay Huff last night. Kawamura has stayed in Chicago as he rehabs back from right lower leg condition.

Twitter

Joel Lorenzi: Yuki Kawamura has been in the gym today working with weights and doing some ball handling. Bulls confirmed that he’d stay around the team while he rehabs.

Twitter

KC Johnson: Bulls have released Yuki Kawamura, which Bulls PR confirms is due to a medical condition. Kawamura has been sidelined with right lower leg pain. Coach Billy Donovan will talk to media following Saturday practice. Bulls are off Friday.

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K.C. Johnson: Julian Phillips (knee strain) and Kevin Huerter (groin) remain out. Yuki Kawamura (lower leg soreness) also out vs. Bucks.

Twitter

Will Gottlieb: Yuki says he's been really impressed with Matas, but the trash talk between the two gets heated "It's no good for TV. Sometimes F-word." Conflicting reports on who is initiating with both Matas and Yuki pointing the finger at each other.

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