Ja Morant reacts after securing first win with NBA's shortest player Yuki Kawamura
Yuki Kawamura didn’t share the floor with Ja Morant in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 126-124 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. The 5-foot-8 guard, the shortest player in the NBA this season, was on the bench but didn't get into the game. He remained engaged, though, as he cheered for his teammates and listened to huddles.
Morant shared a video of himself with Kawamura on Instagram after the win. The backup guard said in the clip:
“Yes, sir. First dub.”
Ja Morant captioned the story:
“First dub with my dawg”
The Memphis Grizzlies signed Yuki Kawamura to an Exhibit 10 contract following the Japanese’s impressive stint in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Rui Hachimura’s countryman was the shortest player in the tournament but showed heart, grit and resilience, which appealed to the team.
A few days before the start of the season, the Grizzlies converted that contract to a two-way deal. He can now be on Memphis’ active list for a maximum of 50 regular-season games.
Kawamura’s NBA regular-season debut remains uncertain, as he's buried in the Grizzlies’ depth chart in the backcourt. The Japanese international has to contend against Marcus Smart, Scotty Pippen Jr. and Vince Williams Jr. for minutes.
Ja Morant has taken Yuki Kawamura under his wing
The Memphis Grizzlies had something special for fans after training camp. They held an open practice before the preseason began. To entertain fans, the team asked Yuki Kawamura to dance for the crowd.
The reportedly usually silent Japanese obliged everyone by busting out his moves at center court while his teammates egged him on. Near the end of his performance, Kawamura signaled for Ja Morant to join him.
Together, they did Morant’s trademark “griddy,” which earned them loud applause from the crowd.
Morant seems to be a big fan of his new teammate. He had a blast dancing with Kawamura and was consistently the loudest cheerleader in the Japanese’s preseason games.
It wasn’t a surprise that the NBA star shared an Instagram story featuring the two after the Grizzlies’ first win of the season.