Yuki Kawamura, Japan's standout point guard, has been released by the Los Angeles Clippers after failing to secure a spot on the team's regular NBA roster.
Kyodo News reported on the 13th that the Clippers waived Kawamura ahead of the start of the 2026-2027 NBA regular season.
Kawamura, a key player for Japan's national team, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Clippers in August in a bid to reach the regular season. An Exhibit 10 deal is a type of trial contract that pays the league minimum and allows a player to join a team's training camp while vying for a standard contract.
Kawamura turned in a strong performance against the Toronto Raptors in a preseason game on the 11th, scoring 10 points with four assists, but it was not enough to win over the Clippers. Despite failing to land a standard contract, Kawamura does not plan to give up. He is expected to continue chasing a spot in the NBA with the Clippers' G League affiliate, the league's minor-league system.