Yuki Kawamura’s NBA Journey: Two-Way Contract, Height, and Future

Few stories in the NBA are as compelling as that of Yuki Kawamura, the 5’7″ point guard from Japan who defied the odds to earn a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls.

Height: 5’7″ ·
Weight: 159 lbs ·
NBA Debut: October 25, 2024 ·
Current Team: Chicago Bulls ·
Position: Point Guard

Six key data points tell the story of a player who has already packed a career’s worth of roster twists into two seasons.

Is Yuki Kawamura the Shortest NBA Player?

At 5’7″ and 159 pounds, Kawamura is undeniably one of the smallest men to ever step on an NBA court. But is he the shortest active player right now? The answer depends on whom you ask.

Yuki Kawamura Height and Weight Details

• Listed height: 5’7″ per ESPN (sports data authority)
• NBA G League lists him at 5’8″ and 159 pounds (NBA G League) — a minor discrepancy that likely reflects rounding.
• Comparable guards: Muggsy Bogues (5’3″), Earl Boykins (5’5″), Isaiah Thomas (5’9″).

List of Shortest NBA Players in History

The all-time shortest NBA player is Muggsy Bogues at 5’3″. Kawamura’s 5’7″ ties him with players like Spud Webb (5’7″, who famously won the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest). According to Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia), Kawamura was described as the shortest player in the 2025-26 season, though this claim has not been independently confirmed by the league.

The takeaway: Kawamura is tied for the shortest active NBA player depending on which official measurement you trust, but the historical company he keeps (Webb, Bogues) proves height alone doesn’t define NBA viability.

Why Is Yuki Kawamura Not in the NBA?

This question betrays a common misunderstanding: Kawamura is in the NBA — he just isn’t on a standard contract. A two-way deal is a very different kind of roster foothold.

Yuki Kawamura’s Current Team: Chicago Bulls

• Kawamura is active on the Chicago Bulls roster as of the 2025-26 season, per NBA.com (official league player page).
• He signed a two-way contract on January 6, 2026, after the Bulls waived Trentyn Flowers in the corresponding move (NBA G League).
• Previously, Kawamura had been with Chicago on a preseason two-way arrangement before being waived because of a leg injury (Hoops Rumors (NBA contracts analyst)).

Two-Way Contract Explanation

A two-way contract allows a player to split time between the NBA team and its G League affiliate. Key restrictions: the player can appear in up to 50 NBA regular-season games per season and is not eligible for playoff rosters. Kawamura’s first two-way season with Memphis saw him play 22 games, averaging just 4.2 minutes per outing. He also dominated for the Memphis Hustle in the G League, putting up 12.7 points and 8.5 assists per game on .383/.365/.761 shooting (all figures from Hoops Rumors).

The catch: Two-way deals are a proving ground, not a destination. Every game Kawamura plays eats into a 50-game limit, and the Bulls have three two-way slots, meaning competition for playing time is built into the system.

Can Yuki Kawamura Dunk?

At 5’7″, a dunk seems improbable — but Kawamura has shown he can throw down in practice and pre-game warm-ups. The question is whether it has ever happened in an actual NBA game.

Yuki Kawamura Vertical Jump and Athleticism

• Kawamura’s vertical leap is reportedly above 36 inches, though no official NBA Combine measurement exists for an undrafted player (YouTube (fan video, unverified)).
• Video evidence shows him dunking in open gym settings and pre-game, but there is no official NBA game dunk on record.
• At his height, a 36-inch vertical would be elite — roughly the same as Russell Westbrook’s measured max vertical.

Video Evidence of Dunks

A June 2026 social/video post framed Kawamura as the NBA’s shortest player and included a clip of him dunking (YouTube). This appears to be authentic, though the source is not official. For context, Spud Webb (5’7″) famously won the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest, proving the feat is possible for players of Kawamura’s stature.

What this means: Kawamura can dunk, but it’s a practice-floor highlight, not a game-time weapon. Much like his two-way status, it’s a curiosity that reinforces his athletic credentials without shifting his on-court value.

What Happened to Yuki Kawamura Now?

The most recent chapter of Kawamura’s career is the most instructive: a re-signing after injury, a strong G League foundation, and a chance to carve out a rotation role in Chicago.

Yuki Kawamura 2024-25 Season Update

• Kawamura agreed to a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls on January 6, 2026 (Chicago Bulls (official X account)).
• The Bulls waived Trentyn Flowers in the corresponding roster move (NBA G League).
• Kawamura had been with Chicago on a preseason two-way arrangement before a leg injury led to his waiver; he recovered and was re-signed (Hoops Rumors).
• He scored 14 points in 15 minutes in a March 2026 game against the Dallas Mavericks (NBA.com).
• By late March 2026, Kawamura had made 11 appearances for the Bulls (ESPN).

Injury Status and Roster Moves

Kawamura’s quadriceps injury sidelined him in early 2026, but he was available to play again on March 27, 2026. At that point the Bulls had 18 rostered players, including three two-way contracts. Kawamura’s G League home is the Windy City Bulls, where he can continue to develop.

The trade-off: Kawamura’s path to staying in the NBA runs through the G League: if he continues to produce as he did with the Memphis Hustle, he may earn a standard contract. If not, the two-way cycle could repeat next season with another team.

Timeline: Yuki Kawamura’s NBA Journey

• 2024: Signs with Memphis Grizzlies as an undrafted free agent; plays 22 games, averaging 4.2 minutes (Hoops Rumors)
• 2025 preseason: Signs two-way with Chicago Bulls; waived after leg injury (Hoops Rumors)
• January 6, 2026: Re-signed by Chicago to a two-way contract after recovery; Trentyn Flowers waived (Chicago Bulls official X)
• March 2026: Scores 14 points in 15 minutes vs Dallas; 11 total games for Bulls by late March (NBA.com)
• March 27, 2026: Active again after quadriceps injury (NBA G League)

Clarity Check: What We Know vs. What We Don’t

Quotes

“The Chicago Bulls announced today the signing of Yuki Kawamura to a two-way contract.”

— Chicago Bulls (official statement via X), January 6, 2026

“Kawamura previously played 22 NBA games for Memphis in his rookie year, averaging 4.2 minutes per game. For the Memphis Hustle, he averaged 12.7 points and 8.5 assists.”

— Hoops Rumors (NBA transactions analysis), January 2026

At 5’7″, Yuki Kawamura is now the shortest active NBA player, a title previously held by Muggsy Bogues.

Frequently asked questions

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Yuki Kawamura’s NBA story is still being written, but the pattern so far is one of persistence against physics and roster mechanics. For a player who was undrafted and then waived, earning a second two-way contract is a genuine achievement. The question now is whether his G League production can translate into a standard NBA deal. For the Chicago Bulls front office, the choice is clear: invest development time in a 5’7″ point guard who has already proven he can score, distribute, and climb back from a waiver — or let him become the one who got away.