MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As the Grizzlies maintained a solid lead against the Orlando Magic, the crowd’s enthusiasm for Japanese reserve player Yuki Kawamura grew increasingly vocal.

“We want Yuki. We want Yuki,” echoed through the stands as Memphis fans showed their support.

With a little over two minutes remaining and the Grizzlies heading towards a 124-111 triumph on Saturday night, Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins called Kawamura to the scorer’s table, prompting cheers from both the crowd and his teammates.

“It was a special moment,” a beaming Kawamura stated following the game. “I love it.”

The Grizzlies inked a two-way contract with Kawamura earlier this month after the conclusion of the preseason. He earned this opportunity by contributing in all five preseason matches, where he averaged 3.4 points and 4.2 assists per game. Prior to joining the NBA, Kawamura had a successful five-season run in the Japanese B.League, culminating in a Most Valuable Player award in the 2022-23 season while playing for the Yokohama B-Corsairs.

Standing at 5-foot-8, his dynamic personality and infectious smile have quickly made him a favorite among Grizzlies fans. During his short two minutes of play against the Magic, he attempted two 3-pointers—both of which missed the mark—amidst sheer encouragement from fans in the arena. Despite participating in two games thus far, Kawamura has yet to score his first NBA points.

“I told him, he has to score his points,” said Memphis guard Ja Morant. “He’s an incredible passer, but he definitely needs to get his name out there. So, my message today was: ‘If you get it, shoot it.’”

Kawamura is now the second player from Japan to play for the Grizzlies, following Yuta Watanabe, who appeared in 38 games during his initial tenure from 2018-19 to 2019-20. Watanabe made a return to the team and played five games in the 2023-24 season.

Reflecting on the game, Kawamura expressed, “It was so amazing. Great team win, but I could have done more. I keep working hard every day.”