Yuki kawamura, Shortest Player in Chicago Bulls History, Won Jump Ball Against Over-6 Foot Opponent
The Chicago Bulls' Yuki Kawamura wins jump ball.
Yuki Kawamura is the shortest active player in the NBA and in Chicago Bulls history
While making his debut with the Chicago team during their Jan. 31 game against the Miami Heat, Kawamura won a jump ball against his 6-foot-5 opponent, Kasparas Jakučionis
“It was my first win since I started basketball … I’m so happy,” Kawamura said after defying all odds
Yuki Kawamura, the shortest active player in the NBA and in Chicago Bulls history, didn’t let his height stop him from leading his team to victory.
The Japanese NBA player, 24, made his debut with the Bulls during the team’s game against the Miami Heat at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday, Jan. 31.
In the process, the 5-foot-7 athlete proved his incredible talents by defying all odds and winning a jump ball against his 6-foot-5 opponent, Heat guard Kasparas Jakučionis.
In videos shared on social media, Kawamura can be seen gaining a tight grip on the ball moments after Jakučionis, 19, lost his balance and fell to the ground. Upon forcing his opponent into a jump ball, Kawamura was facing a 10-inch disadvantage against Jakučionis.
“Yuki was on him like a wolverine,” an announcer quipped, as seen in a clip shared by the NBA. “We’re gonna see the shortest player in ball’s history go up for a jump ball!"
After the referee eventually tossed the ball in the air, Jakučionis appeared to graze the ball with his finger as he jumped up to swipe it out of the air, but his timing seemed a bit too early. Before he knew it, Kawamura successfully hit the ball and gained possession of it for his team.
“He won the tap!” the announcer repeated in astonishment. “Yuki, here he comes. 5-foot-8 [sic], winning the tap!”
Ultimately, Kawamura helped his team secure their 125-118 win against the Miami team by recording six points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in just 11 minutes of game play.
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Yuki Kawamura FORCES a jumpballYuki Kawamura FORCES a jumpball
Yuki Kawamura forces a jump ball during the Chicago Bulls-Miami Heat game on Jan. 31.
“It was my first win since I started basketball. I’m so happy,” he said of his jump ball win after the game, according to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network. “I've been a big Chicago Bulls fan my whole life. I'm so happy to be here. I just wanted to bring energy from the bench. But I got to be better — I'm not satisfied yet."
“It was my first time playing in clutch time in the NBA,” he continued. “I felt so amazing. I got locked in."
Kawamura, a former player for the Memphis Grizzlies, played for Chicago’s Summer League team in 2025 but was waived in the preseason due to a blood clot in his lower right leg. After recovering to full health with the help of the Bulls' medical team, the basketball star signed a two-way deal with the Bulls in early January.
“You always take those things seriously,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said, per Lancaster Online. “He’s worked really, really hard. I’m happy for him because at that point, when you have something like that, you just don’t know what that’s going to look like in the future. I’m just happy it all worked out well for him."