Japan’s Yuki Kawamura is currently the shortest NBA player, standing at just 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters), according to Sporting News. Kawamura is only the fourth Japanese player to ever play in the NBA, following in the footsteps of Rui Hachimura, Yuta Watanabe, and Yuta Tabuse. His journey from Japan to the NBA has been nothing short of remarkable.

“It’s not like I can do any dunk shots,” Kawamura told CNN Sports, but he’s working on his three-point shooting.

Kawamura’s record-breaking performance came during the Paris Olympics in 2024, where he scored 39 points against the host team, France. The major highlight was the contrast of the 5-foot-8 guard squaring off against the 7-foot-3 Victor Wembanyama. Although Japan lost in overtime, his performance helped him land a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies in October 2024.

“I simply could not believe it,” Kawamura said of his NBA call-up. “Ever since I was little, I watched the NBA through videos, players like Michael Jordan. The fact that I was on the same court, sitting on that bench, was unbelievable.”

Kawamura has quickly won over fans in Memphis despite limited playing time. He set a career-high with 10 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder in December, and his playmaking skills have continued to shine in the G League.

“When I hear those cheers, I feel both great gratitude and the wish to live up to the expectations that the fans have for me, and I feel that every day,” he said. “I’d like to become a player who can receive calls like ‘we want Yuki’ during the important moments of the game.”

Bond with Ja Morant

Since joining Memphis, Kawamura has formed a strong bond with teammate Ja Morant.

“Ja Morant is like my big brother, truly,” Kawamura said. “From when I arrived in America, he’s been helping me. Even now, he teaches me basketball skills and English.”

As per Sporting News, the shortest player in NBA history was Muggsy Bogues, who stood at just 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 meters).

Shortest Players in the NBA: