Diamond Member Pelican Press 0 Posted March 8, 2025 Diamond Member Share Posted March 8, 2025 This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up A.J. Lawson makes first-ever NBA start TORONTO – There was no hiding A.J. Lawson’s smile when Scotiabank Arena in-game host Mark Strong announced his name as part of the Toronto Raptors’ starting lineup. The hometown boy had finally arrived. Lawson made his first-ever NBA start in Toronto’s 118-109 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday, validation after a long journey to the top men’s basketball league in the world. The 24-year-old guard finished with six points, three rebounds and an assist in 26:35 minutes of play, but he was still smiling in the Raptors locker-room post-game. “It felt amazing. I mean, we got the win. I’m super happy about that,” said Lawson. “Got to hear my name announced for the first time as an NBA starter. “It was a blessing. It’s all God’s work right there.” Story continues below advertisement Lawson played NCAA basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks but went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft. He signed with the College Park Skyhawks, the minor league club for the Atlanta Hawks, in 2022. He then played a season with the ********* Elite Basketball League’s Guelph Nighthawks that summer, a decision that he said put him on a path to the NBA because it got him in shape to join the Dallas Mavericks’ summer league team. Related Videos This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up /applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png"> 3:21 Toronto Raptors adding Brandon Ingram at trade deadline an ‘important step in the rebuild,’ GM says Previous Video Next Video Lawson averaged 3.4 points, 1.2 rebounds and 7.4 minutes of play in 57 career NBA games with Dallas and the Minnesota Timberwolves over the last two seasons. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up /applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png"> Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. During this span, he also averaged 21.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 34.1 minutes in seven games with the Texas Legends in the 2023-24 G League season and 20 points, 7.4 rebounds and 31.9 minutes in 22 games with the Legends, Iowa Wolves and College Park in the 2022-23 campaign. Story continues below advertisement The six-foot-six, 185-pound Lawson averaged 24 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 35.1 minutes in 11 games (all starts) this season with the Long Island Nets, the G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, before signing a two-way deal with the Raptors and their Mississauga, Ont., based G-League affiliate Raptors 905. Lawson, from nearby Brampton, Ont., said that it “means everything” that he made his first-ever NBA start in Toronto. “Because my parents got to see. My fam, friends, loved ones. It’s amazing,” he said. “I know, if I check my phone right now, they’re probably all sending me snaps and videos about the start.” More on Sports More videos Lawson played alongside Immanuel Quickley in Toronto’s backcourt. Quickley had a season-high 34 points in the win and said that Lawson played with confidence. Trending Now This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up /applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png"> Canada is pulling U.S. booze off shelves. Here’s what Jack Daniel’s maker said This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up /applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png"> Snowbirds, take note: The U.S. says these foreign nationals must register “He was 2-for-13 but you would never know it from how hard he plays on defence,” said Quickley. “He doesn’t let miss shots affect him and I love that. When you shoot, when you’re shooting and missing, keep shooting, because they gotta eventually fall. “His energy, his mindset, that’s something that we need. And I appreciate him. We appreciate him.” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic rested RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont. — a childhood friend of Lawson’s — and Jakob Poeltl, creating the opening in the lineup for Lawson’s start. Story continues below advertisement Quickley and forward Scottie Barnes are expected to be rested when Toronto hosts the Washington Wizards on Saturday night, giving Lawson another chance to start. This time, however, his parents might avoid the drive in from Brampton. “They like to watch it from home, because the traffic (to) downtown is pretty bad,” he laughed. “They don’t really like the traffic, but once I told them I got to start, they said that they would come. They pulled up and supported me, so I’m super happy. “I’m going to go talk to them right now, see how they feel. We got the win, so I’m super happy about that.” This report by The ********* Press was first published March 7, 2025. © 2025 The ********* Press This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up #A.J #Lawson #firstever #NBA #start This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up For verified travel tips and real support, visit: https://hopzone.eu/ 0 Quote Link to comment https://hopzone.eu/forums/topic/237095-aj-lawson-makes-first-ever-nba-start/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
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