Basketball Operations Brief

Yuki kawamura and david jones-garcia headline a great summer for two way talent

tyler sukenik (ig- nba._.Polls) AND gregory spicer – 07/27/2025

The San Antonio Spurs have signed summer league standout David Jones-Garcia to a two-way contract. Jones-Garcia, who was awarded NBA 2K26 All-Summer League First Team, averaged 22.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 steals in 8 games played. Along with these numbers, he also shot the ball well, at 52.1% from the field, 51.0% from three, and 87.5% at the line.

On paper, these are all good stats, but what made him shine was the poise and effort he showed on the floor. Offensively, he thrived with the ball in his hands, looking comfortable scoring off the dribble and driving to find the open man. He had no trouble controlling the game at his own pace. On the defensive side of the ball, Jones-Garcia guarded multiple positions at 6’6 AND did a great job slowing down opposing players with his on-ball defense.

His college career consisted of one year at DePaul, one year at St. John’s, and one year at Memphis. After going undrafted out of Memphis in 2024, Jones-Garcia signed a two-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. That contract was short-lived as he was waived after two months. From there, he signed with the Mexico City Capitanes in the G-League, before signing another two-way contract with the Utah Jazz. Once again, his time in the NBA lasted only two months, placing him back in Mexico City. 

Although he faced an inconsistent schedule in his 46 G-League games last year, he averaged 21.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks on 48/34.9/87.9 shooting splits. His strong performances landed him as the runner-up for NBAGL Rookie of the Year.

Two days before signing a two-way deal with the Spurs, Jones-Garcia turned down a 3-year contract with Olympiacos in Greece to continue pursuing a career in the U.S. Throughout his bumpy journey in basketball, Jones-Garcia’s dedication to the sport has once again landed him an opportunity to play in the NBA. With a young, deep team in San Antonio, he will face yet another challenge earning NBA minutes, but if his career continues on its current trajectory, he can play a key part in the spurs future sucess

One of the G-League’s most popular players was also signed to a contract following great performances in the 2025 Summer League. Yuki Kawamura, a 24-year-old point guard, is the shortest player in the NBA. The five-foot-eight playmaker saw minutes in 22 games for the Grizzlies last SEASON AND hoped to find another contract by showcasing his skills this summer in Las Vegas. 

It’s been everything but the usual route for Kawamura, who was signed out of Japan (his home country) and never played college ball. Finding himself on another two-way contract for one of the NBA’s most prominent franchises is another unique stop for the basketball journeyman. 

The Bulls were smart to give Kawamura their last roster spot. They have drafted forwards multiple years in a row and possess a deep roster of developing players. These talents include rookie sensation Matas Buzelis (SF/PF), lengthy Frenchman Noa Essengue (SF/PF), and a couple of young, two-way players in Emanuel Miller (SF/PF) and Lachlan Olbrich (PF/C). The latter three will all spend substantial time in the G-League, and they need someone who can elevate them without hindering development. 

Kawamura fits this mold perfectly, as he shines best as a floor spacing playmaker. The sharpshooting guard shot over 40% from three-point range on 6.5 attempts per game in the G-League last season. He followed that up in Las Vegas by shooting 42% from behind the arc in five games. Having a guard that spaces the floor with a group of wings still developing their jump shots brings a lot of balance to the young core.

Along with his floor spacing, Kawamura’s specialty is playmaking. He showed off this ability throughout summer league with a compilation of no-look and behind-the-back passes. His 31 total assists (6.2 APG) are the second most by a Bull in their Summer League history. On top of that, he was one of two players to average over six assists and two steals in the tournament.

The Bulls’ front office is hoping that the chemistry Kawamura displayed with the young forwards will translate to the regular season. He’s already given Essengue, Miller, and Olbrich countless open looks, and keeping the trend going will increase the confidence of those beneficiaries. 

While the Windy City Bulls G-League squad is certainly gaining some excitement with this move, Kawamura will also help the NBA Bulls. As a two-way deal, Kawamura can play up to 50 games in Chicago while making the league minimum ($636,435). Kawamura already having NBA experience (22 G), combined with game-ready shooting, means he can step in and contribute in the potential absence of star guards Coby White, Josh Giddey, and Ayo Dosunmo. Getting that kind of ability without infringing on the team’s salary cap is huge for an organization begging to sneak into the playoffs. 

Kawamura is excited to be in Chicago, and the fans are pumped to have him. A signing so fueled by social media rarely comes to fruition, but Kawamura has proven his worth. The roster now gets an NBA-experienced player who strengthens the young core at a much-needed position.