Grizzlies' Japanese guard Yuki Kawamura makes heartfelt plea to fans in China, advocates for Ja Morant and 2 others
Memphis Grizzlies’ young guard Yuki Kawamura made a heartfelt appeal to fans in China on Saturday, advocating for his teammates Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. Kawamura appeared on an NBA China livestream alongside Jackson Jr., where the duo discussed various topics while sharing a lighthearted and fun moment together.
In a post shared by the Grizzlies on Instagram, Jackson Jr. encouraged fans to participate in the ongoing All-Star Game voting. Kawamura then joined in, passionately echoing his teammate’s message. The Japanese guard, currently the shortest player in the NBA, urged fans to cast their votes for Jackson Jr., Ja Morant and Desmond Bane.
Kawamura later shared the Grizzlies' post on his Instagram story, reinforcing his request as he once again urged fans to show their support for his teammates.
"Please Don't forget to vote for them," Kawamura wrote.
Morant, Jackson Jr. and Bane are all performing well this season, helping the Grizzlies secure third place in the Western Conference standings with a 27-15 record through 42 games.
However, Morant has missed 18 games this season, making him ineligible for All-NBA and MVP consideration. In the 24 games he has played, the superstar point guard is averaging 21.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Also read: NBA's shortest player Yuki Kawamura drops heartfelt reaction to Ja Morant playfully renaming him
Jackson Jr. is enjoying a stellar season, posting averages of 22.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.5 spg and 1.7 bpg over 40 games. He is shooting efficiently, hitting 49.0% from the field, including 34.4% from beyond the arc.
Bane has also been impressive, averaging 17.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.2 apg and 1.3 spg across 33 games this season.
Yuki Kawamura shines for Memphis' G League team
Yuki Kawamura took the court on Saturday, delivering a standout performance in the Memphis Hustle's 129-123 overtime victory against the Texas Legends at the Comerica Center in G League. The Japanese guard played a key role in securing his team’s hard-fought win.
The 5-foot-8 guard logged 33 minutes and contributed 20 points, one rebound, four assists and one steal. Kawamura showcased his efficiency, shooting 6-of-13 from the field, including an impressive 4-of-9 from beyond the arc.