At full speed, Yuki Kawamura can’t be stopped.
It’s not just his first step. Kawamura knocks defenders off-balance from the moment he gets into motion, leaning and weaving before suddenly screeching to a halt. It’s difficult to predict his movements because his vision isn’t fixated in one place; it’s split between the basket and the revolving movement of his teammates, equal parts eager to score and to facilitate.
This is nothing new. It’s who Kawamura always has been. And over the span of his 14 minutes, 22 seconds in Tuesday’s preseason opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kawamura posed the same question: Wait, why can’t this guy make it in the NBA?
That’s the question Kawamura hopes to force coaches and general managers to answer over the course of his second year in the league. The process started in Las Vegas this summer, when Kawamura parlayed a summer league contract into a two-way deal with the Bulls.
“I feel like I proved myself,” Kawamura, 24, said.
Despite the initial victory, Kawamura’s outlook in Chicago remains uncertain. The second-year player joins a packed backcourt of facilitating guards behind Josh Giddey, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu and Tre Jones.
Kawamura is facing an uphill battle against the natural pecking order of the roster. White and Giddey are cornerstones of the franchise, Dosunmu is a consistent contributor and Jones won over coach Billy Donovan in a matter of weeks last season.
But the inaccessibility of playing time for Kawamura mostly comes down to his greatest disadvantage — at 5-foot-8, he is once again the smallest player in the league. Despite the overall length of the Bulls roster, however, Kawamura is hoping that discrepancy will stand out less if he can play to Donovan’s fast-paced system.
The Bulls rebuilt their offense last season around an up-tempo style that emphasizes transition play and heavy ball movement. These are two of the strongest aspects of Kawamura’s game. In the open court, speed begins to outweigh a size disadvantage. And in the half-court, the guard’s passing stands out even in a crowded point guard group.
“I feel like it fits me,” Kawamura said. “I love the system. That’s why it didn’t take me a long time to adjust to the Bulls offense.”
Bulls guard Yuki Kawamura, right, shoots over Cavaliers guard Killian Hayes during a preseason game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Cleveland. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)
Here’s another thing to understand about Kawamura: This guy isn’t quiet.
Maybe it’s a point guard thing. Maybe it’s just a reflection of his confidence. Regardless of the reason, Kawamura is going to make himself heard. On the court. Off the court. Language barrier be damned.
This trait came as a bit of a shock at first for second-year forward Matas Buzelis, who claims to be the most frequent victim of Kawamura’s banter.
“Yuki likes to talk a lot of trash,” Buzelis said. “Every time he’s with me, he’s talking trash to me. I just want to say, ‘Hi, good morning.’ But he’s already ready to go, especially when there’s scrimmages.”
Kawamura, of course, objects to this framing.
“He was lying,” the guard said. “He starts it every time.”
But he doesn’t object the content of Buzelis’ claims. Walk into a gym with Buzelis and Kawamura both on the hardwood and you’ll quickly be met with a soundtrack of bickering back talk that only grows in pitch when the two start playing.
What exactly does Kawamura say to get Buzelis fired up?
“It’s no good for TV,” Kawamura said with a laugh. “Sometimes f-words, something like that. I cannot say right now, I’m so sorry.”
This playful repartee is a regular staple of the young Bulls roster, which is dominated by players who are 25 and younger. But Buzelis is always quick to note that this relationship is built on a foundation of respect for how Kawamura competes on the court.
Photos: Scenes from Chicago Bulls media day at the United Center
“At his height, what he does is probably the most incredible thing I’ve seen on the basketball court,” Buzelis said.
Earning the respect of teammates and coaches wasn’t hard for Kawamura. The most challenging hurdle, however, is what comes next.
The guard made it this far before. His stint in Memphis started the same way: Make a strong impression in training camp, earn a two-way contract as a result — only to spend most of his time playing with the Grizzlies G-League squad. Injuries sometimes opened up opportunities for Kawamura to move up to the senior team, but ultimately, he saw only 22 games of NBA action last season.
Kawamura isn’t sure how to elevate to this next level of his career. He preaches patience and work ethic — but on a roster like the Bulls’, there’s no clear path toward consistent NBA playing time, even for one of the hardest workers in the locker room.
But if Kawamura is deterred by the uncertainty of his future in Chicago, he isn’t letting it show in the preseason as he fights to prove himself — again.
“I just want to contribute to the team any way I can,” Kawamura said. “I have to be consistent with my performance, with my play, no matter if I’m in the NBA or G-League. Yes, my goal is to get a main NBA contract one day. But I just want to focus right now (and) contribute to the team.”