On October 7, the Memphis Grizzlies faced off against the Dallas Mavericks in their first preseason game. Japanese star Yuki Kawamura came off the bench to contribute significantly, scoring 5 points—one three-pointer and two free throws. The Grizzlies emerged victorious with a final score of 121-116.
Playing in Dallas, the Grizzlies showcased their new roster, including Ja Morant, who had not played for nine months, as well as newly drafted players Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, along with the recently signed Kawamura. Meanwhile, the Mavericks were missing key players, including Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson.
Zach Edey, a Canadian-Chinese center picked in the first round of the draft, started the game for Memphis. In the second quarter, he connected with Morant for a highlight-reel alley-oop dunk, finishing the game with 6 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 steal.
Kawamura, standing at 5’8″, showed no signs of apprehension in his debut. After being subbed in during the fourth quarter, he immediately made an impact by hitting a three-pointer off an assist from Jake LaRavia and then sank two free throws after being fouled. As he continued to find his rhythm, he also tallied 3 assists, including a slick bounce pass to Jay Huff for a reverse dunk. Kawamura wrapped up his NBA preseason debut with a commendable 5 points and 3 assists.
Ja Morant made his return to the court and finished with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Despite twisting his right ankle in the second quarter, he reassured reporters post-game that he was fine and did not sustain a serious injury.
