When you're 5-foot-8 and playing in the NBA, somehow you'll always be playing in the shadows of taller teammates and taller opponents.
But Japanese point guard Yuki Kawamura says he welcomes such thing, actually.
He and the 7-foot-4 Zach Edey even recreated the iconic photo of Manute Bol posing with Muggsy Bogues and three basketballs during the Memphis Grizzlies Media Day.
Kawamura was then asked about Edey during the Memphis Grizzlies media availability. The Canadian baller from Purdue had apparently shared how the Japanese point guard "attacked him" and "drove right to the lane" during practice.
Apparently, Yuki has plenty of experience playing with seven-footers.
"I used to play with the tallest guy in the Japan basketball league. His name is Kai Sotto. He's maybe the same height with Zach Edey," he said in an interview. "I love playing with tall guys. So I'm super excited to play with [Edey]."
Remember when Kai Sotto had a stellar run in the 2023-24 Japan B.League season with the Yokohama B-Corsairs?
The 7-foot-3 big man from the Philippines had a stretch of double-doubles for Yokohama and many attributed his efficiency to the fine playmaking of the former B.League Rookie-MVP.
[ALSO READ: Who is Yuki Kawamura, the point guard that gets Kai Sotto buckets?]
Kawamura continued to impress, making history for Japan in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
In the overtime loss to France, Kawamura became the third player to register 25+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in an Olympic game in the 21st century.
Only Kevin Durant in 2016 and Luol Deng in 2012 achieved the feat previously.
Yuki is coming off a B.League season where he averaged 20.9 points per game, which led all locals. He also averaged 8.1 assists, the best mark in the B1.
In the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Kawamura starred for Akatsuki Japan, averaging 13.6 points and 7.6 assists.
He further improved in the Olympics, averaging 20.3 points, while making 7.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds.
It was enough to impress the Grizzlies and give him a contract.
[ALSO READ: Akatsuki Japan aces Yuki Kawamura, Keisei Tominaga give NBA a shot via Exhibit 10 deals]
Kawamura did make a respectable NBA debut for the Grizzlies in the preseason. In nine minutes of play, he went for five points and three assists in the win against the Dallas Mavericks on October 7.
However, he went scoreless in nine minutes to the loss against the Charlotte Hornets on October 10.
