Bulls Sign Yuki Kawamura to Two-Way Contract

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed guard Yuki Kawamura (YOO-kee kah-wah-MOO-rah) to a two-way contract. In a related move, Chicago has waived guard Jahmir Young.

Kawamura, 5-8, 162, appeared in five games with the Bulls 2025 Summer League club, averaging 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.2 steals in 23.9 minutes. His team-leading 31 total assists was the second-most assists by a Bulls player in a single Las Vegas Summer League session since at least 2013, and he was one of three players to average at least 6.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game throughout NBA 2K26 Summer League 2025 play.

During the 2024-25 season, Kawamura saw action in 22 games with the Memphis Grizzlies and averaged 1.6 points and 0.9 assists in 4.2 minutes. Kawamura scored in double figures twice during his rookie campaign, notching career highs of 12 points, five rebounds and five assists versus Dallas on April 13.

The Yanai, Japan native also suited up with Memphis G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, during the 2024-25 campaign – averaging 12.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 31.0 minutes through 24 G League regular season games while earning a selection to the NBA G League Up Next Game at 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend. Kawamura finished the G League regular season ranked sixth in assists per game (7.8) and tallied 14 games with five-plus assists – highlighted by a G League career-high 16 assists alongside 11 points at the Stockton Kings on Feb. 26.

Prior to his NBA career, Kawamura played five seasons in the Japanese B.League (2019-24), suiting up in 167 games between the San-en NeoPhoenix (2019-20) and Yokohama B-Corsairs (2020-24), while posting career clips of 16.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 27.1 minutes. During the 2022-23 season, Kawamura earned the B.League’s highest honor, Most Valuable Player, powered by 19.5 points and 8.4 assists per game. He was also named 2022-23 B.League Guard of the Year.

Kawamura, a two-time Japanese B.League’s Best Five Team selection, has been a member of the Japanese National Team since 2021-22. His tenure with the national team includes an appearance in the 2024 Olympics – where Kawamura ranked third among all Olympic players in points per game (20.3) and tied for third in assists per game (7.7). He was the only player to average at least 20.0 points and 7.0 assists during the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Chicago currently has three players on two-way contracts (Kawamura, Emanuel Miller, Lachlan Olbrich).