Is Yuki Kawamura more than just a fun NBA rarity?

Kawamura is now finding out that the NBA is a different beast than the Japanese league. He is a full four inches shorter than the next shortest player on an NBA roster this season. Those players include the likes of future Hall-of-Famer Chris Paul and NBA All-Star Fred VanVleet, some of the greatest undersized guards of all time. Kawamura will need to be incredibly effective on the court to be even mentioned in the same conversation as those two. 

The early results of Kawamura's career in the NBA indicate that he may just be a novelty, albeit a fun one. Although he has seen the floor in eight of the Grizzlies first 10 games, it has mainly been for a few minutes at the end of decided games. 

Partly signed due to his shooting ability, he is only shooting 1-of-8 from three-point range so far this season. Kawamura's size is certainly a concern, as he isn't used to the incredible length of athleticism of NBA defenders quite yet. In any consequential NBA minutes he might play, he will be targeted on defense, making his ability to hit threes on the other end absolutely essential. 

Over the next few games, however, Kawamura could prove himself more than just a fun story. In the Grizzlies last game, they had five different guards out with injuries. Kawamura has seen career highs in minutes over the last two games, and if the Grizzlies continue to battle with injuries to their backcourt, Kawamura might get enough stage time to prove he is more than just a novelty.