CNN  —

Standing at just 5 feet 8 inches tall, Yuki Kawamura is perhaps an unlikely basketball star.

“It’s not like I can do any dunk shots,” says the NBA’s current shortest player, who is almost a foot below the average height in the league. He’s the only man under 6 feet (1.83 meters) tall on an active NBA roster.

Nevertheless, the 23-year-old Memphis Grizzlies guard has become a fan favorite in his rookie season, thanks to his seamless no-look passes and ankle-breaking jump shots, as he battles to establish himself in the league.

“I think my strengths are in assist and game control, so I’m hoping to play to my strengths to contribute to the team’s win,” Kawamura told CNN Sport in an interview, adding that he has also been working on his three-pointers.

Kawamura warms up before a game.

Kawamura is only the fourth ever NBA player from Japan and it’s been a whirlwind journey to the top for the man from Yanai, a sleepy city in the southwest of the country.

He is following in the footsteps of Los Angeles Lakers star Rui Hachimura, former Grizzlies forward Yuta Watanabe, and Yuta Tabuse, the pioneering 5-foot-9 point guard who played four games for the Phoenix Suns in the 2004-05 season.

“He’s the first Japanese NBA player, and watching his play inspired me to keep working hard on basketball,” Kawamura said.