The NBA season has moved into another important stretch, and the Chicago Bulls are still trying to find rhythm in the middle of it. Even so, the team has kept looking for players who can give them value on both ends of the floor. One of those names is Yuki Kawamura.
The guard has not played a heavy role yet, but he has brought energy and discipline to the Bulls’ rotation. For a player still trying to prove himself at the highest level, every minute matters.
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Kawamura’s season has been the real reason why Chicago believes in him. In 11 games, he is averaging 3.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 33.3% from the field and 31.3% from three-point range. He is playing about 11 minutes per game, and that is nearly three times more than he did last season with Memphis. His path has not been easy, but he has kept pushing for a bigger NBA role.
Feb 26, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Yuki Kawamura (8) warms up before an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
That pursuit has come with a major financial sacrifice. Kawamura chose a two-way contract worth roughly $354,794 with the Bulls, according to Spotrac. Before coming to the NBA, he earned around $2.5 million in Japan during the 2023-24 season, per Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews. He reportedly could have earned close to $5 million per year in the Japanese B.League. That means his current NBA salary is about seven times less than what he could have made at home.
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Yuki Kawamura is reportedly earning roughly 7 times less in the NBA than he could in Japan, opting for a ~$355k Two-Way contract over a potential $5M deal in the Japanese B.League. 🇯🇵
(Via @BasketNews_com ) pic.twitter.com/l06TPfvDZh
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) March 21, 2026
Still, Yuki Kawamura has chosen the NBA dream over comfort. He was the 2023 B.League MVP with Yokohama B-Corsairs, and he already proved himself overseas. Now he is splitting time between the Bulls and the Windy City Bulls. His decision shows clear intent. He is betting on opportunity, growth, and a longer future in the league.
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