Basketball: Bulls ink Japan national team star Kawamura to 2-way deal
The 24-year-old, who became a free agent after his National Basketball Association rookie campaign last season with the Memphis Grizzlies, impressed in five Summer League appearances for the Bulls, averaging 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.2 steals in 23.9 minutes.
Under the two-way deal, he will divide his time between the Bulls and their affiliated team in the developmental G League.
The 173-centimeter Kawamura last season became the fourth Japanese player to appear in the NBA after joining the Grizzlies on a two-way contract. He played in 22 games, averaging 1.6 points and 0.9 assists in 4.2 minutes.
In 24 games for the Grizzlies' G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, he averaged 12.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 31.0 minutes.
Kawamura previously starred for the San-en NeoPhoenix and Yokohama B-Corsairs in Japan's domestic B-League and was a standout performer for head coach Tom Hovasse's Japan team at the 2024 Paris Olympics and 2023 FIBA World Cup.
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