The Memphis Grizzlies faced off against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Monday, with the Bulls securing a commanding 132-107 victory. Missing from the action was Ja Morant, still sidelined with an elbow injury that's kept him out for over a month. His absence meant he couldn't catch up with his former teammate and current Bulls fan favorite, Yuki Kawamura.
Kawamura, who transitioned from Japan to the NBA, credits Morant with helping him adjust to life in the States. "I wanted to see my guy, Ja Morant.
But he wasn’t here. Ja helped me a lot since I came in the States," Kawamura shared.
Post-game, Kawamura swapped jerseys with fellow Japanese player and former teammate Rui Hachimura. Reflecting on his time with the Grizzlies, Kawamura expressed gratitude for the opportunity they provided him from 2024 to 2025 before his trade to Chicago.
"I love the Memphis Grizzlies organization," he remarked. "They gave me a chance.
But I was a little bit motivated to go up against them. Now I’m just so happy the Bulls gave me an opportunity to keep proving myself.
I’m still learning. I’m still trying to find how to impact the game."
Kawamura's role with the Bulls has been expanding, seeing more action off the bench. Against Memphis, he logged 12 minutes, contributing five points and hitting all three of his free throws. In a previous matchup against the Raptors, he scored five points in eight minutes, despite the Bulls' 139-109 loss.
The Bulls are set to continue their home stand against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, looking to build on their recent performance.