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Yuki Kawamura And The Top 5 Most Exciting Grizzlies Point Guards Ever

David Astramskas (Redapples)

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Publish Date: Oct 17, 2024

Fact checked by: Sara Jane Gamelli

Yuki Kawamura Passing Clinic vs Pacers

You might have seen this viral clip of 5'8" undrafted point guard Yuki Kawamura doing his best Magic Johnson "Heee Heee" impersonation. If the name of the Grizzlies rookie sounds familiar, you might remember him from this summer's Olympics, when he put up 29 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 threes in an overtime loss to France. Or maybe you remember us asking if he was "the best and most exciting guard in Asia?" after he followed back-to-back 30-point games with a 40-point performance.

The 23-year-old viral sensation is currently on an Exhibit 10 contract. Since Derrick Rose retired and the Grizzlies just signed Scotty Pippen Jr. to a multi-year deal, the Grizzlies have a vacated two-way contract that could go to Yuki. I'm not sure how much he can help Ja Morant and the team win games, but I'm positive he will be a fan favorite.

UPDATE: Yuki signed the final two-way contract, made the Grizzlies roster and is loved by Ja.

Ja Morant Get Their First Win Of The Season Yuki Kawamura Loving It First Dub

Yuki Kawamura's BEST ASSISTS From Preseason | Memphis Grizzlies

Speaking of Yuki, Rose, and Ja, hearing their names made me think about all the exciting point guards who have worn Grizzlies jerseys since the team's inception in 1995. Here are my top five favorite (not who I think is the best) Grizzlies point guards ever.

HONORABLE MENTION: ALLEN IVERSON

When did The Answer play for the Grizzlies? The answer is three games in 2009. Despite signing with the team because "God chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career," The 34-year-old AI was unhappy being Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo's backup and decided he didn't want to continue playing there. The feeling from the front office was mutual, and they terminated his deal.

Best Game: 18 PTS (8/12 FG), 7 AST, 3 REB in 27 MINS

Allen Iverson Memphis Grizzlies interview

HONORABLE MENTION: GILBERT ARENAS

Yes, Agent Zero also played for the Grizzlies. He lasted 20 more games than Iverson but was far from Hibachi in them. How cold was he? How about scoreless in the final five games of his NBA career. With that said, pre-podcast Gil was one of my favorite players, so he gets the second honorable mention over Stevie Franchise, who was drafted and ended his career with the franchise but never played a single game for them.

Best Game: 10 PTS (4/4 FG), 2 AST, 2 STL in 15 MINS

The Moment Gilbert Arenas Knew His Career Was Over

5: MIKE CONLEY JR.

The Grit-and-Grind leader played 12 seasons and left with the franchise record for most career points (11,733). He's not only the best defender on this list but is considered one of the five best players in franchise history. Not known for highlights, he would occasionally pull out a nice move that left a defender on the floor -- ask Steph Curry.

Best Game: 40 PTS (12/18 FG), 4 AST, 1 TO

Mike Conley Highlights

4: MAHMOUD ABDUL-RAUF

Most people think the player Phil Jackson called "Steph Curry before Steph Curry" was "blackballed" from the league in 1996 after refusing to stand for the National Anthem. Mahmoud's NBA career actually ended half a decade later. The Nuggets suspended Mahmoud for one game and then traded him after the 1996 season to the Kings, where he played two seasons before going overseas. He returned to the NBA in 2000 to play his final season in Vancouver.

Best Game: 25 PTS (12/19 FG), 3 AST in 23 MINS

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (Kings & Grizzlies)

3: DERRICK ROSE

Like Mahmoud and many other great point guards, the youngest MVP in NBA history ended his career with Grizzlies on his chest. He only played 24 games but occasionally showed flashes of his old self. And unlike some other names on this list, Rose was more than happy to come off the bench and provide mentorship to the young talents on the team. And if there's one talented point guard in the NBA who could use the mentorship from a player like Rose, it's this next guy.

Best Game: 19 PTS (7/14 FG), 6 AST, 1 TO

Derrick Rose | Scoring Highlights | Memphis Grizzlies 2023-24

2: JA MORANT

Ja is one of the most talented and exciting players in the NBA. His ability to break ankles, block shots and posterize defenders reminds me a lot of another 6'2" point guard who the Grizzlies drafted: Steve Francis! Injuries and off-the-court issues limited Ja to just nine games last season, but I'm willing to bet that it won't take long for him to remind the NBA world that he was All-NBA 2nd team for a reason.

Best Game: 52 PTS (22/30 FG), 7 REB or 49 PTS (17/26 FG), 8 AST

Ja Morant's Top 25 Career Plays!

1: WHITE CHOCOLATE

Most remember Jason Williams for his days in Sacramento. Others may be Miami since he was part of the Shaq and Wade team that won a championship in 2006. But, his highest scoring and assists seasons were with the Grizzlies.

When I heard the Kings were trading their exciting, erratic, and disgruntled point guard to Vancouver for the dull, quiet, and consistent Mike Bibby, I remember thinking this was an excellent trade for the Kings and a horrible one for the Grizzlies. Williams agreed and said he would have made the trade, too, and didn't think Coach Hubie Brown would accept his style of play. We were wrong. He averaged career-highs of 14.8 points and 8.3 assists during his first season under Brown and was a Most Improved Player candidate the following season. That's all great, but he's No. 1 on this list because of the alley-oops and no-look passes to Pau Gasol and Stromile Swift.

Best Game: 38 PTS (16/28 FG), 11 AST, 6 REB, 4 STL