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Former Grizzlies fan favorite winds up on Bulls’ NBA Summer League roster

Welcome, Yuki.
ByAndrew Hanlon|
Nov 25, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Yuki Kawamura (17) drives to the basket as Portland Trail Blazers guard Taze Moore (76) defends during the second half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Nov 25, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Yuki Kawamura (17) drives to the basket as Portland Trail Blazers guard Taze Moore (76) defends during the second half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Diminutive guard Yuki Kawamura, who became a cult hero with the Memphis Grizzlies last season, will suit up for the Chicago Bulls in this year's NBA 2K26 Summer League 2025.

Kawamura will be joined on the roster by rookie Noa Essengue, whom the Bulls selected with the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, along with second-round pick Lachlan Olbrich, who's expected to play this season on a two-way contract.

Matas Buzelis is also listed on the roster but assumedly won't see the floor much as he's penciled in as Chicago's starting power forward in 2025-26. A few minutes of Buzelis and Essengue on the floor together would liven things up, though.

Wing Emmanuel Miller and guard Jahmir Young, who were with the Bulls on two-way deals last season, will join the team in Las Vegas. Josh Primo, the No. 12 pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2021 draft, is another notable listed on the team's roster.

Former Grizzlies guard Yuki Kawamura will play with Bulls in 2025 Summer League

Kawamura, listed at 5-foot-8, earned Memphis' final roster spot last year and quickly became a fan favorite. He was the shortest active player in the NBA during the 2024-25 season and just the 13th player in NBA history listed at 5-foot-8 or shorter.

He appeared in just 22 games for the Grizzlies and played 93 total minutes, but was a solid performer for the franchise's G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle. Kawamura started all 24 games he appeared in for the Hustle and averaged 12.4 points, 7.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 31 minutes. He shot 41.0 percent from three on 6.5 attempts per contest.

He was the MVP of the B.League in Japan in 2022-23 when he averaged 19.1 points, 8.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals.

The 24-year-old earned praise from former teammate Ja Morant, as well as last year's NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander:

The Bulls kick off summer league on July 11 with a game against the Toronto Raptors. Kawamura and Co. will face the Sacramento Kings (July 12), before playing the Indiana Pacers (July 14) and Milwaukee Bucks (July 16). Should Chicago qualify, the summer league playoffs begin on July 19.

Billy Donovan III will be the team's head coach.

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