Bulls sign ex-Grizzlies fan-favorite point guard to two-way deal

Joe Mayo

Bulls sign ex-Grizzlies fan-favorite point guard to two-way deal image

The Chicago Bulls have had a relatively quiet offseason amid contract talks with restricted free agent Josh Giddey, though they added a new guard following an impressive string of performances this summer. 

The Bulls signed Summer League standout Yuki Kawamura to a two-way contract Saturday, according to Shams Charania of ESPN

The 5-foot-8 point guard impressed during Summer League play, averaging 10.2 points, 6.2 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 2.0 three-pointers per game while shooting 41.7 percent from beyond the arc in five appearances. 

Kawamura spent the 2024-25 season on a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies and quickly became a fan favorite despite appearing in only 22 regular-season games. He spent the majority of his time with the club’s G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, where he averaged 12.7 points, 8.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals across 31.7 minutes per game in 31 outings. 

MORE: Yuki Kawamura offers heartfelt message to fans after Bulls Summer League stint

The 24-year-old rarely saw significant playing time with Memphis and is unlikely to see consistent rotation minutes with Chicago unless injuries arise. However, he’ll likely see ample playing time with the Bulls’ G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls. 

Kawamura also turned heads in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he starred for Team Japan. During the Olympics, he averaged 20.3 points, 7.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals while shooting 40.6 percent from three-point range in three outings. 

Now, he’ll aim to prove he belongs at the NBA level with a rebuilding Chicago squad.

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Joe Mayo

Joe Mayo is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. Born and raised in Wisconsin, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2024. He’s also a contributor at RotoWire. While Joe primarily writes about the NBA, he also covers the WNBA and MLB.