A. J. Lawson

Anthony Randolph "A. J." Lawson (born July 15, 2000) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Texas Legends of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

A. J. Lawson
Lawson with South Carolina in 2020
No. 9 – Dallas Mavericks
PositionShooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2000-07-15) July 15, 2000
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight179 lb (81 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeSouth Carolina (2018–2021)
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022College Park Skyhawks
2022Guelph Nighthawks
2022College Park Skyhawks
2022Minnesota Timberwolves
2022→Iowa Wolves
2022–presentDallas Mavericks
2022–present→Texas Legends
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-SEC – Coaches (2021)
  • SEC All-Freshman Team (2019)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Canada
FIBA Americas U18 Championship
Silver medal – second place2018 CanadaTeam

Early life and high school career

Lawson grew up in Brampton, Ontario and attended GTA Prep in Mississauga, a basketball academy based out of Mississauga Secondary School where he was coached by David Cooper. In his grade 12 season, Lawson was named an National Preparatory Association First Team All-Star and led the team to second place in the NPA championships.[1] Originally set to graduate in 2019 and ranked 40th in his class by 247Sports as well as fourth-best Canadian prospect by North Pole Hoops, Lawson reclassified for the class of 2018.[2] Lawson committed to playing college basketball for South Carolina over offers from Tulane and Creighton. South Carolina head coach Frank Martin began recruiting Lawson after a late night workout in Columbia on the trip back from a tournament.[3]

College career
Lawson in February 2019

Lawson averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in 29 games played and was named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman team.[4][5] He was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on November 19, 2018, after averaging 15.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists over a three-game stretch against Norfolk State, Providence and George Washington.[6] Following the season he initially entered his name into the 2019 NBA draft, but decided to withdraw and return to South Carolina for his sophomore season.[7][8]

Lawson was named to the preseason first team All-SEC and to the Jerry West Award watchlist going into his sophomore year.[9][10] He was also named the 41st-best collegiate basketball player going into the 2019–20 season by CBS Sports and the 29th-best prospect for the 2020 NBA draft by ESPN.[11][12] Lawson scored a season-high 28 points on November 15, 2019, in a 90–63 win against Cleveland State.[13] Lawson led the team during the season in total points with 416 and points per game at 13.4 while also averaging 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game.[14] Following the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft but did not hire an agent.[15] Lawson decided to withdraw from the draft and return to South Carolina on July 29.[16] On January 6, 2021, Lawson scored a career-high 30 points in a 78–54 win over Texas A&M.[17] As a junior, he averaged 16.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He was named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Second Team. On April 19, 2021, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft and signed an agent.[18]

Professional career

College Park Skyhawks (2021–2022)

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Lawson joined the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks for the 2021 NBA Summer League.[19] On September 22, 2021, Lawson signed with the Atlanta Hawks.[20] However, he was waived on October 7.[21] In October 2021, Lawson signed with the College Park Skyhawks[22] where he played 26 games and averaged 11.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, while shooting 48.1% from the field.[23]

Guelph Nighthawks (2022)

On April 26, 2022, Lawson signed with the Guelph Nighthawks of the CEBL.[23]

Minnesota Timberwolves / Return to College Park (2022)

Lawson joined the Dallas Mavericks for the 2022 NBA Summer League.[24] In five games, he averaged 15.6 points and 6.0 rebounds, while shooting 51.9% from the field.[25] Later, on July 19, 2022, Lawson signed a two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.[26] On October 15, 2022, Lawson was waived by the Timberwolves.[27] On November 3, 2022, Lawson was named to the opening night roster for the College Park Skyhawks.[28] On November 16, Lawson signed another two-way contract with the Timberwolves,[29] but was waived on December 8.[30] Two days later, he returned to College Park.[31]

Dallas Mavericks (2022–present)

On December 26, 2022, Lawson signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks, splitting time with their NBA G League affiliate, the Texas Legends.[32]

National team career

Lawson has competed internationally for the Canada men's national under-19 basketball team. He averaged 14.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship as Canada finished second in the tournament.[33] Lawson posted team highs with 18 points and 12 rebounds in Canada's 113–74 loss to the United States in the tournament final.[34]

In the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, Lawson averaged a team-best 16.7 points with 3.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in seven games as Canada advanced to the quarterfinals.[35] He also had the highest scoring performance of the tournament with a 31-point game against Senegal.[36]

Lawson made his debut with Canada's senior men's national team during the first round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers.[37]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 Minnesota 102.01.000——1.0.0.0.02.0
2022–23 Dallas 1407.6.488.400.2501.4.1.1.03.9
Career 1507.2.500.400.2501.4.1.1.03.7

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 South Carolina 292829.9.411.358.6674.32.91.1.213.4
2019–20 South Carolina 313129.1.414.339.7243.71.91.2.113.4
2020–21 South Carolina 212131.3.394.351.7004.11.21.5.116.6
Career 818030.0.407.349.6974.02.11.2.214.2

References
  1. Colpitts, Iain (April 25, 2018). "Trusting the process has kept basketball star AJ Lawson close to home". Brampton Guardian. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  2. Suleymanov, Mark (June 27, 2018). "Canada's A.J. Lawson commits to South Carolina". Sporting News. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  3. Ramspacher, Andrew (February 23, 2019). "'In my mind, we got AJ five years ago.' One man's journey to bring AJ Lawson to USC". The State. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  4. "South Carolina basketball: Why AJ Lawson's due for big season". The State. October 23, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  5. Whittle, John. "Lawson deserves 'a little more respect'". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  6. Del Bianco, John (November 19, 2018). "AJ Lawson earns first SEC weekly award". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  7. "Gamecocks' Lawson Declares For NBA Draft, Eligible To Return". Live5News.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  8. "South Carolina freshman AJ Lawson declares for NBA draft". USA Today. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  9. "A.J. Lawson named Preseason All-SEC First Team by the coaches". WLTX.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  10. "USC's Lawson Named To Jerry West Award Watch List". Live5News.com. October 15, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  11. Boone, Kyle; Norlander, Matt; Parrish, Gary (October 24, 2019). "Ranking the Top 100 And 1 best players in college basketball entering the 2019–20 season". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  12. Givony, Jonathan (November 4, 2019). "NBA mock draft: Viewer's guide for our top prospects". ESPN. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  13. "Lawson leads South Carolina past Cleveland State 90–63". USA Today. Associated Press. November 15, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  14. Del Bianco, John (March 18, 2020). "Seventh Woods finishes sit-out season on strong note". 247Sports.com. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  15. "South Carolina guard A.J. Lawson declares for NBA draft". ESPN. Associated Press. April 26, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  16. "Leading hoops scorer AJ Lawson returning to South Carolina". NBC Sports. Associated Press. July 29, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  17. "Lawson scores 30, leads South Carolina over Texas A&M, 78–54". Gamecocks Online. January 6, 2021. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  18. Lananna, Michael (April 19, 2021). "AJ Lawson makes NBA decision official, ending his Gamecocks career". The State. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  19. Greger, Mike (August 11, 2021). "Rookie Guard Ditches Heat for Hawks at NBA Summer League". Heavy.com. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  20. "Atlanta Hawks Sign Johnny Hamilton, A.J. Lawson, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Jahlil Okafor". National Basketball Association. September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  21. "Hawks Request Waivers On A.J. Lawson, Sign Daquan Jeffries". National Basketball Association. October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  22. "College Park Skyhawks fall in preseason scrimmage". Clayton News-Daily. October 30, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  23. "Guelph Nighthawks Sign Canadian AJ Lawson". CEBL.com. April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  24. "Dallas Mavericks 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster". National Basketball Association. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  25. Afseth, Grant (July 19, 2022). "EXCLUSIVE: A.J. Lawson Talks Summer Mavs; How He Earned T-Wolves Contract". DallasBasketball.com. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  26. "Timberwolves To Sign A.J. Lawson To Two-Way Contract". Hoops Rumors. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  27. "Timberwolves Waive Three Players". National Basketball Association. October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  28. "College Park Skyhawks Roster 2022–23". National Basketball Association. November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  29. Stanton, Matt (November 16, 2022). "Timberwolves Sign A.J. Lawson to Two-Way Contract". National Basketball Association. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  30. "Timberwolves Sign Matt Ryan to Two-Way Contract". National Basketball Association. December 8, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  31. "AJ Lawson Returns to College Park Skyhawks". National Basketball Association. December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  32. "Mavs Waive Tyler Dorsey, Sign A.J. Lawson to Two-Way Contract". Sports Illustrated. December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  33. Zagoria, Adam (June 23, 2018). "Canadian star A.J. Lawson expected to announce Tuesday". ZagsBlog.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  34. Ewing, Lori (June 16, 2018). "U.S. blows out Canada to win FIBA Americas U18 title". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Canadian Press. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  35. Ramspacher, Andrew (July 22, 2019). "How close AJ Lawson came to leaving South Carolina, what he learned from Chris Paul". The Charlotte Observer.
  36. Brzozowski, Greg (July 4, 2019). "Gamecocks' Lawson shines for Canada in win over Senegal". ABCColumbia.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  37. "Brampton's A.J. Lawson set to debut with senior men's national team". Canada Basketball. November 25, 2021.
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