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–Japan’s Yuki Kawamura has been turning heads so far in the Paris Olympics 2024 men’s basketball competition.
Kawamura had a performance to remember of 29 points built on six three-pointers to go with seven rebounds and six assists in Japan’s gallant stand against host France, led by NBA big men Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert, in the group phase.
According to Fiba, Kawamura is only the third player in the Olympics who have combined for 25+ PTS, 5+ REB and 5+ AST in a game in the 21st century with the other two being NBA players Kevin Durant in 2016 and Luol Deng in 2012.
SCHEDULE: Men’s basketball at Paris Olympics 2024
But was a heartbreaking finish for Kawamura and the Japanese, who fell short to the home bets in overtime 94-90 with NBA Rookie of the Year Wembanyama scoring eight of his 18 points in extra regulation to stay unbeaten in two games in Group B.
Pitted against a massive French home crowd and a couple of NBA players, Kawamura, a 5-foot-8 guard, stood tall against the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama and the tough defenders Gobert and Nic Batum.
