Memphis Grizzlies guards Yuki Kawamura (17) and Ja Morant (12) during open practice at FedExForum. Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Photo of Ja Morant and Yuki Kawamura Goes Viral

Originally posted on Memphis Grizzlies on SI
By Joey Linn | Last updated Oct 21, 2024 10:15 PM ET

The Memphis Grizzlies announced last week that the team had signed Japanese guard Yuki Kawamura to a two-way contract. The 5-foot-8 playmaker had been with the Grizzlies throughout training camp and the preseason.

Kawamura’s promotion to a two-way deal came after Scotty Pippen Jr. was signed to a standard roster spot. NBA legend Derrick Rose vacated that final spot on the Grizzlies roster when he announced his retirement.

“The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team promoted guard Yuki Kawamura to a two-way contract,” the team wrote in a statement. “Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Kawamura (5-8, 159) appeared in all five preseason games as a reserve for the Grizzlies and averaged 3.4 points and 4.2 assists in 15.1 minutes after initially signing with Memphis on September 6.”

Promoted to Two-Way ✔️ pic.twitter.com/WdscXonNwN
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) October 19, 2024

Kawamura has a massive fanbase, and this post from the Grizzlies tallied over six million views on X. A photo of Kawamura and his teammate Ja Morant has also been going viral.

Posing together at a 2000s themed Grizzlies party, Morant and Kawamura took a picture that fans have been loving.

師弟コンビで✌️

河村勇輝、モラントの影響かなり受けてるかもしれませんね pic.twitter.com/VUnX5IrGRd
— BNFA aka NBAnews4All (@__BNFA) October 20, 2024

This photo from shotbynie has over 510,000 views on X.

Kawamura will likely spend a good amount of time with the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ G League affiliate. When he is with the NBA club, Kawamura will be a fan favorite.

This article first appeared on Memphis Grizzlies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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