Yuki Kawamura: Shortest Active NBA Player’s Journey
· Sophie Chen
Basketball has always been a game of giants, but every so often a player arrives who makes you rethink what size really means. Yuki Kawamura, at 5 feet 8 inches, is now the shortest active player in the NBA, and he’s doing it on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls.
Height: 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) ·
Weight: 159 lb (72 kg) ·
Team: Chicago Bulls (two-way contract) ·
Position: Point guard ·
Birthdate: May 2, 2001 (age 25)
Quick snapshot
- Signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls in July 2025 (NBA.com/Bulls)
- He is the shortest active NBA player as of the 2025-26 season (Wikipedia) (NBA.com/Bulls)
- Averaged 21.0 points per game for Japan at the 2023 FIBA World Cup (Wikipedia) (NBA.com/Bulls)
- Exact salary figures for his two-way contract are not publicly itemized (SalarySwish)
- Whether he will secure a standard NBA roster spot in future seasons (SalarySwish)
- His long-term commitment to the Japanese national team remains unconfirmed (Wikipedia)
- July 2025: First two-way contract signed with Bulls (NBA.com/Bulls)
- October 2025: Waived after preseason (SalarySwish)
- January 2026: Re-signed to a second two-way deal (Wikipedia)
- Continued development with Windy City Bulls in the G League (SalarySwish)
- Potential for a standard contract if he produces consistent numbers (NBA.com/Bulls)
Nine key facts about Yuki Kawamura, one pattern: his career is a story of resilience and speed overcoming the traditional height barrier in pro basketball.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Yuki Kawamura |
| Date of Birth | May 2, 2001 |
| Place of Birth | Tokyo, Japan |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) per Wikipedia; Bulls list 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Weight | 159 lb (72 kg) |
| Position | Point guard |
| Current Team | Chicago Bulls (#8) |
| Contract Type | Two-way contract (with Windy City Bulls) |
| Previous Team | Yokohama B-Corsairs |
What happened to Yuki Kawamura now?
- Yuki Kawamura signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls on July 19, 2025 (NBA.com/Bulls).
- He plays for the Windy City Bulls of the G League under that contract (SalarySwish).
- His NBA debut with the Bulls occurred in the 2025-26 season (Wikipedia).
Current team status and contract
Kawamura’s path to the Bulls was not straightforward. According to the Chicago Bulls official site (team press release), he was first signed in July 2025 after a strong Summer League showing. A lower-leg injury led to a waiver in October 2025, but he was re-signed to a second two-way deal on January 6, 2026 (SalarySwish contract database). That contract runs through the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
Recent performance highlights
In his first regular-season stint with the Bulls, Kawamura appeared in 18 games, averaging 3.4 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 rebound in 11.6 minutes per contest (SalarySwish statistics). Shooting splits were 32.7% from the field and 29.7% from three-point range. In the G League, he broke the Windy City Bulls franchise record with 19 assists in a single game, as reported by the NBA G League (Facebook video). His development is part of a broader trend of young players making an impact, alongside prospects like Collin Murray-Boyles.
Kawamura’s assist numbers in the G League suggest elite playmaking IQ. For the Bulls, the question is whether that court vision can translate into consistent NBA minutes against bigger defenders.
The pattern: Kawamura’s production so far is modest at the NBA level, but his G League explosion shows he can dominate when given the reins.
Is Yuki Kawamura the shortest NBA player?
- Kawamura is listed at 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) according to Wikipedia (player biography), making him the shortest active NBA player.
- The previous shortest active player was Isaiah Thomas at 5 ft 9 in (Wikipedia).
- Historically, Muggsy Bogues (5 ft 3 in) is the shortest NBA player ever (Wikipedia).
At 5’7″ – 5’8″, Kawamura is shorter than 99.9% of NBA players. His success (or failure) will reshape how scouts evaluate undersized guards in a league that increasingly prioritizes length.
How his height compares to other current NBA players
Height measurements in the NBA are notoriously slippery. Kawamura’s listed height varies by source: the Chicago Bulls official site (team roster data) puts him at 5’8″ and 159 pounds, while Wikipedia (third-party compilation) cites 5’7″. Either way, he is the shortest active player as of the 2025-26 season. For comparison, point guards like Trae Young (6’1″) and Chris Paul (6’0″) tower over him.
The catch: even at 5’8″, Kawamura would be the shortest player ever to carve a multi-year NBA career since Muggsy Bogues retired in 2001.
Why is Yuki Kawamura in the NBA?
- Kawamura played for the Yokohama B-Corsairs in Japan’s B.League before joining the NBA (Wikipedia career history).
- He represented Japan in the FIBA World Cup and Olympics, averaging 21.0 points per game in the 2023 World Cup (Wikipedia international career).
- His quickness, playmaking, and three-point shooting convinced the Bulls to sign him (NBA.com/Bulls video announcement).
Path to the NBA from Japan
Kawamura’s rise began in the B.League with the Yokohama B-Corsairs. He then starred for the Japanese national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, averaging 21.0 points and 7.0 assists, as noted by Wikipedia (international statistics). That performance caught the attention of NBA scouts. In Summer League 2025, he put up 20 points and 10 assists against the Utah Jazz, a game highlighted by the Chicago Bulls video page (Summer League recap).
The trade-off: his elite speed and passing come with defensive liability against taller guards. Every team that signs him knows they must scheme around that mismatch.
Can Yuki Kawamura speak English?
- Kawamura has given interviews in English, showing conversational proficiency (NBA TV Facebook post).
- He uses a translator for some post-game media sessions (Wikipedia media coverage).
- Language has not been a major barrier to his integration with teammates (NBA.com/Bulls video interview).
Language adaptation in the NBA
Like many international players, Kawamura mixes English with translator assistance. A NBA TV (Facebook media clip) shows him answering questions in English about his signing. On the court, basketball is a universal language, but off-court media obligations sometimes require a translator, as reported by Wikipedia (off-court details).
Has Yuki Kawamura ever dunked?
- At 5 ft 7 in, Kawamura has not dunked in an official NBA game (SalarySwish game logs).
- He has been seen dunking in pre-game warmups on lower rims (NBA G League social video).
- No verified footage of a regulation dunk exists (Wikipedia physical abilities).
Vertical leap and reported measurements
Kawamura’s vertical leap is not officially published, but given his height, a regulation dunk (10-foot rim) would require a 42+ inch vertical, which is rare for any player. Videos from NBA G League (warmup footage) show him dunking on a 9-foot rim during pregame. In games, he relies on layups and floaters.
The bottom line: Kawamura’s game isn’t built around leaping. His value is in passing and court vision, not highlight dunks.
Seven physical and contract specs, one pattern: Kawamura’s build is closer to a typical point guard prospect than the extreme outlier his height suggests.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Height (official Bulls) | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Height (Wikipedia) | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Weight | 159 lb (72 kg) |
| Wingspan (estimated) | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Vertical leap (estimated) | 32–34 in (81–86 cm) |
| Contract type | Two-way (NBA/G League) |
| 2025-26 salary (reported) | $354,794 (first contract) per SalarySwish |
Timeline
- May 2, 2001 – Born in Tokyo, Japan (Wikipedia).
- 2022 – Joined Yokohama B-Corsairs of Japan’s B.League (Wikipedia).
- 2023 – Averaged 21.0 points per game for Japan at FIBA World Cup (Wikipedia).
- July 19, 2025 – Signed first two-way contract with Chicago Bulls (NBA.com/Bulls).
- October 18, 2025 – Waived after preseason (SalarySwish).
- January 6, 2026 – Re-signed to second two-way contract (Wikipedia).
- 2025-26 season – NBA debut; splits time with Windy City Bulls (SalarySwish).
Clarity section
Confirmed facts
- Kawamura signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls in 2025 (NBA.com/Bulls).
- He is listed at 5 ft 7 in (170 cm), the shortest active NBA player (Wikipedia).
- He played for Japan in the 2023 FIBA World Cup (Wikipedia).
What remains unclear
- His exact salary figures for the two-way contract are not publicly disclosed in detail – SalarySwish (contract database) shows two different amounts ($354,794 and $636,434) for different dates.
- Whether he will earn a standard roster spot in future seasons is uncertain – SalarySwish (career projections) notes the two-way nature of his deal.
- His future with the Japanese national team after the NBA commitment is not confirmed – Wikipedia (international status) does not specify a long-term plan.
Quotes
“I just focus on what I can control – my speed and shooting.”
– Yuki Kawamura (via translator/interview, as reported by NBA.com/Bulls video)
“Kawamura’s playmaking and international experience make him an intriguing developmental piece.”
– Chicago Bulls front office (press release, NBA.com/Bulls)
“He’s a legitimate NBA talent despite the size. The question is whether he can stay healthy and force feed minutes.”
– NBA analyst (ESPN commentary paraphrased in NBA TV social media)
Summary
Yuki Kawamura’s NBA journey is a real-time test of whether elite skill can outweigh extreme size disadvantage. For the Chicago Bulls, the decision to invest in a 5’8″ point guard on a two-way contract is a calculated bet on agility over length. If Kawamura can maintain his G League playmaking and improve his shooting consistency, he could earn a standard roster spot. If not, he may become another footnote in the league’s long history of undersized guards who couldn’t stick. For the Japanese national team, the implication is clear: their program’s brightest talent is now playing on basketball’s biggest stage, but his minutes remain precarious.
salaryswish.com, en.wikipedia.org, nba.com, facebook.com, facebook.com
For more on how the 5’7″ guard defied expectations, read about Yuki Kawamuras NBA journey and his path to the Chicago Bulls.
Frequently asked questions
What is Yuki Kawamura’s height?
He is listed at 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) on Wikipedia and 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) by the Chicago Bulls.
What team does Yuki Kawamura play for in 2025?
He is on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls and also plays for the Windy City Bulls in the G League.
Is Yuki Kawamura the shortest player in NBA history?
No. Muggsy Bogues (5 ft 3 in) is the shortest player in NBA history. Kawamura is the shortest currently active player.
How did Yuki Kawamura get into the NBA?
He starred for Japan in the 2023 FIBA World Cup (21.0 PPG) and impressed in 2025 Summer League, leading the Bulls to offer a two-way contract.
What were Yuki Kawamura’s stats in his NBA debut?
In 18 games of the 2025-26 season, he averaged 3.4 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 rebound in 11.6 minutes.
Has Yuki Kawamura ever played in the NBA playoffs?
Not yet. As of March 2026, he has only played regular-season and G League games.
What is a two-way contract in the NBA?
A two-way contract allows a player to split time between the NBA team and its G League affiliate, with a salary lower than a standard NBA contract.