​INDIANAPOLIS — Johnny Carpenter has seen this up close. He’s witnessed the vision, the no-look, behind-the-back passes, the dazzling handle, and the relentless on-the-ball defense. He’s felt how a 5-foot-7 point guard who is also a national hero back home can rally a lineup of taller teammates and electrify a packed arena. “I got to experience Yukimania,” Carpenter, Pacers assistant coach and head coach of their NBA Summer League squad, said after practice on Tuesday.
Carpenter was an assistant coach on the Memphis Grizzlies’ staff in the 2024-25 season when Pacers Summer League point guard Yuki Kawamura began his first stint in the United States after showcasing his talent on the international stage at the 2024 Olympics in Paris with Japan. Japan went 0-3 in the group phase, but Kawamura played a pivotal role against a loaded field, keeping things close for Victor Wembanyama and eventual silver medalists France, even pushing the game to overtime. In those three games, Kawamura averaged 20.3 points and 7.7 assists, including a 29-point, seven-rebound, six-assist outing against France where the French star stood nearly two feet taller.
Less than a month after the Olympics, Kawamura signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Grizzlies, which they converted into a two-way deal during training camp. He logged just 93 NBA minutes as a rookie, yet fans clamored for more because he was incredibly productive when on the floor, posting 13.9 points and 7.4 assists per 36 minutes. In the G League with the Memphis Hustle, he averaged 12.7 points and 8.4 assists per game, producing highlight-worthy plays with regularity.
“He’s so quick—his mind and his body,” Carpenter said. “His quickness, right? He’s thinking several passes ahead. He’s moving, cutting steps ahead of the defense. This (points to his head) is one of his greatest gifts.”
Kawamura spent last season on a two-way with the Chicago Bulls and received more NBA playing time and a broader opportunity overall. He appeared in 18 NBA games, compared with 22 in 2024-25, and averaged 11.6 minutes per game with Chicago versus 4.2 minutes per game in Memphis. His Chicago numbers translated to 10.7 points and 8.1 assists per 36 minutes, while he posted 18.7 points and 10.8 assists per game in 11 appearances with the Windy City Bulls in the G League.
Now Kawamura is joining the Pacers this summer, a move that leaves his ultimate role somewhat unclear from the outside. The Pacers have one standard contract open, but with $207 million already committed in salary, including a two-year, $17 million deal for forward Kelly Oubre Jr. that utilizes the non-taxpayer portion of the mid-level exception, the team is just about $2 million shy of the minimum for a roster spot.