Yuki Kawamura just picked up his third Exhibit 10 contract of his NBA career.
The Los Angeles Clippers made it official via their Twitter account on August 10, 2026, confirming they'd signed the Japanese point guard. The announcement was straightforward: an Exhibit 10 deal, giving him a shot at training camp and preseason action, with hopes of sticking with the team once the new season kicks off. No flashy language — just a simple tweet reading "We have signed Yuki Kawamura to an Exhibit 10 contract," accompanied by a signing photo.
This isn't new territory for Kawamura. He first inked an Exhibit 10 with the Memphis Grizzlies, using that non-guaranteed deal to earn a spot on the regular season roster. He then moved on to the Chicago Bulls, where he was briefly upgraded to a two-way contract — a step closer to becoming a full-fledged rotation player — before ultimately getting released. This summer, he suited up for the Indiana Pacers in NBA Summer League, using the stage to prove himself all over again, which paved the way for this new Exhibit 10 offer from the Clippers.
Here's the catch: his starting point this time is even lower than before. An Exhibit 10 contract guarantees nothing. If a player doesn't make the final 15-man roster, the only path forward is heading to the team's G League affiliate, collecting a bonus per league rules. NBA regulations are also clear that each team can only carry three two-way contract slots, so competition for those spots is inherently limited. Sources suggest the odds of Kawamura landing a two-way deal with the Clippers are slim — the more realistic scenario has him grinding it out in the G League, hoping strong numbers there can knock on the NBA's door once more.
In other words, this isn't a steady climb up the ladder — it's Kawamura starting from the bottom for the third time. The image of him sharing the court with Rui Hachimura hasn't materialized yet, but at least this time, he's earned another chance to try.
