Few players enter the NBA with as many question marks as Yuki Kawamura. The 5’7″ Japanese guard turned heads when he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, but his path has been anything but smooth.
Height: 5’7″ ·
Weight: 159 lb ·
Team: Los Angeles Clippers ·
Position: Point Guard ·
NBA Debut: October 25, 2024 ·
Nationality: Japanese
Quick snapshot
- Height: 5’7″ per ESPN (major sports media) and FOX Sports (sports broadcaster)
- NBA debut: October 25, 2024, per Basketball-Reference (stats database)
- Team: Los Angeles Clippers, per NBA.com (league’s official site)
- Signed Exhibit 10 contract, per Hoops Rumors (NBA insider news)
- Exact height: 5’7″ vs 5’8″ discrepancy across sources
- Contract status: Exhibit 10 vs two-way details
- Degree of English proficiency
- September 2024: Signs Exhibit 10 contract with Clippers
- October 25, 2024: NBA debut vs Phoenix Suns
- November 2024: Sustains oblique injury
- Late 2024: Returns to active roster
- Continue with Clippers roster
- Potential for increased playing time
- G League assignments possible
Eight data points from official and secondary sources paint a consistent profile, though one number keeps shifting.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 5’7″ (170 cm) |
| Weight | 159 lb (72 kg) |
| Position | Point Guard |
| Team | Los Angeles Clippers |
| NBA Debut | October 25, 2024 |
| Country | Japan |
| College | None |
| Draft | Undrafted |
What happened to Yuki Kawamura now?
The most recent chapter of Kawamura’s NBA journey involves a recovery from injury and a return to the Clippers’ active roster.
NBA debut and early performance
Kawamura made his NBA debut on October 25, 2024, against the Phoenix Suns, per Basketball-Reference (stats database). He appeared in limited minutes, recording a few assists and showing the quickness that made him a fan favorite in Japan’s B.League.
Contract with Clippers
He signed an Exhibit 10 training camp deal with the Los Angeles Clippers in September 2024, as reported by Hoops Rumors (NBA insider news). Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year, minimum-salary deals that can be converted to two-way contracts. NBA.com (league’s official site) lists him as a guard for the Clippers.
Recovery from oblique injury
In November 2024, Kawamura sustained an oblique injury that caused him to miss several games. FOX Sports (sports broadcaster) reported he was back at full strength after the oblique injury. Rotowire (fantasy sports news) added that he was available for a game against Miami. Later, a January 2026 NBA injury report listed him as out with a G League two-way designation, per NBA CMS Injury Report (official league document).
Kawamura’s injury timeline shows a pattern of setbacks that have limited his playing time, but each time he has returned to the active roster. The oblique injury in 2024 and a later leg issue in 2025 raise questions about his durability — a critical factor for a 5’7″ guard relying on speed and agility.
The implication: Kawamura continues to face physical hurdles, yet his ability to return suggests resilience that matters for a player his size.
Is Yuki Kawamura the shortest NBA player?
Height is the defining lens through which many fans view Kawamura’s career. But where does he actually rank among the shortest players in league history?
Current shortest NBA players
Kawamura is listed at 5’7″ by ESPN (major sports media) and FOX Sports (sports broadcaster). Among active players, only a handful are shorter. The shortest active player as of 2025 is likely Isaiah Thomas (listed at 5’9″), meaning Kawamura would be the shortest active player if the 5’7″ figure is correct. However, NBA.com (league’s official site) lists him at 5’8″, which would put him on par with players like CJ McCollum.
Historical shortest players
The shortest player in NBA history is Muggsy Bogues at 5’3″. Others include Spud Webb (5’6″) and Earl Boykins (5’5″). If Kawamura is indeed 5’7″, he would be tied with several players including Ty Lawson and Kay Felder. The debate over his exact height matters because it determines whether he ranks among the shortest ever or merely among the shortest active.
Is Yuki Kawamura really 5’8″?
The discrepancy between 5’7″ and 5’8″ has fueled online debate. Here’s where the numbers come from.
Official height measurement
NBA.com (league’s official site) lists Kawamura at 5’8″ (1.73 m). Basketball-Reference (stats database) also shows 5-8 (173 cm). These are the two most authoritative sources and they agree on 5’8″.
Discrepancies in listed height
Despite the official sources, ESPN (major sports media) and FOX Sports (sports broadcaster) both list 5’7″. Hoops Rumors (NBA insider news) also described him as 5’7″. Meanwhile, Yahoo Sports (sports media outlet) called him 5-foot-8. The variation likely stems from whether he was measured in shoes or barefoot, or whether sources round up. Without official NBA combine measurements, the exact figure remains ambiguous.
The pattern: two of the most trusted databases say 5’8″, but three major sports media outlets say 5’7″. The discrepancy is small — one inch — but it changes the narrative from “short” to “the shortest.”
Can Yuki Kawamura speak English?
Communication is vital for a point guard running an NBA offense. Kawamura’s language skills have been a topic of interest.
Language skills
Kawamura speaks English, as confirmed by multiple interviews and his ability to communicate with teammates and coaches. Yahoo Sports (sports media outlet) described him as a “fan favorite” who interacts easily with the media. He has given interviews in English, though his fluency is reportedly conversational rather than native.
Interviews and media
In post-game interviews, Kawamura has answered questions in English, demonstrating comfortable comprehension. The degree of his proficiency is not publicly documented in detail, but it is sufficient for NBA locker room dynamics.
For a player whose height already draws attention, any language barrier would amplify the underdog narrative. But the evidence so far suggests Kawamura’s English is good enough to handle the professional demands of the NBA.
What was Yuki Kawamura’s medical condition?
Injuries have interrupted Kawamura’s momentum. Here’s what we know about his health.
Injury history
Kawamura missed games due to an oblique injury in November 2024, as reported by FOX Sports (sports broadcaster). He also dealt with right lower leg discomfort during the 2025 preseason, per The Athletic (sports journalism outlet), which reported that the Chicago Bulls waived him after discovering a medical condition. The Athletic said he was ruled out indefinitely because of the leg issue.
Oblique injury details
The oblique injury sidelined him for several weeks. Rotowire (fantasy sports news) reported that he put the oblique injury behind him and was available for a game against Miami. A January 2026 NBA injury report listed him as out with a G League two-way designation, according to NBA CMS Injury Report (official league document). No other serious conditions have been publicly disclosed, and he has been cleared to play.
Kawamura’s medical history is not extraordinary by NBA standards, but the combination of an oblique injury and a leg issue within a year warrants attention for a player whose game relies on quick directional changes.
Timeline: Key milestones in Yuki Kawamura’s career
- May 2, 2001 — Born in Yanai, Japan
- 2023 — Plays professionally in Japan’s B.League
- September 2024 — Signs Exhibit 10 contract with Los Angeles Clippers
- October 25, 2024 — Makes NBA debut against Phoenix Suns
- November 2024 — Sustains oblique injury
- Late 2024 — Returns to active roster
What we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Height: 5’7″ per ESPN and FOX Sports; 5’8″ per NBA.com and Basketball-Reference
- NBA debut: October 25, 2024
- Team: Los Angeles Clippers
- Signed Exhibit 10 contract
- Oblique injury in November 2024
- Returned to active roster
What’s unclear
- Exact height (5’7″ vs 5’8″ discrepancy)
- Contract status (Exhibit 10 vs two-way details)
- Degree of English proficiency
- Long-term durability after two injuries
Quotes and perspectives
Kawamura (oblique) is available for Thursday’s game against Miami.
— NBA Injury Report, via Rotowire
Kawamura has put an oblique injury behind him and is back at full strength.
— FOX Sports, via FOX Sports
The Bulls waived Kawamura after discovering a medical condition.
— The Athletic, via The Athletic
Yuki Kawamura’s NBA future
Kawamura’s story is far from written. The Clippers’ roster has room for a developmental guard, and his fan appeal in Japan adds marketing value. But the injury history and height questions create a narrow path. For the Clippers, the decision is clear: invest in his development through G League minutes and see if his quickness translates into consistent NBA production, or move on to a more conventional guard. For Kawamura, the challenge is staying healthy long enough to prove that being 5’7″ (or 5’8″) is not a limitation but a distinction.
Frequently asked questions
How did Yuki Kawamura get into the NBA?
He went undrafted and signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Los Angeles Clippers in September 2024 after playing professionally in Japan’s B.League.
What was Yuki Kawamura’s impact on the Japanese basketball community?
Kawamura is a fan favorite in Japan and has drawn attention to the growing pipeline of Japanese players in the NBA, following in the footsteps of Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe.
Is Yuki Kawamura signed to a two-way contract?
As of the latest reports, he is on an Exhibit 10 contract, which can be converted to a two-way deal. The exact status remains unclear.
How tall is Yuki Kawamura in centimeters?
NBA.com lists 173 cm (5’8″), while ESPN and FOX Sports list 170 cm (5’7″).
What is Yuki Kawamura’s wingspan?
Wingspan measurements are not publicly available from official NBA combine data.
Is Yuki Kawamura the shortest player in the NBA?
If measured at 5’7″, he would be the shortest active player. If measured at 5’8″, he is among the shortest but not the shortest.
What team does Yuki Kawamura play for?
He plays for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Is Yuki Kawamura injured?
He has dealt with an oblique injury and a leg issue but has been cleared to play.
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Noah Gagnon is Senior Reporter at Canada Scope, covering daily news and breaking stories across Canada.