When Brampton, Ont., native A.J. Lawson officially signed a contract with the Toronto Raptors this spring, he called his parents on the phone and said, “I’m coming home.”
“The younger version of myself would probably tell you, ‘No way,'” Lawson told CBC Sports. “But at the same time, I always had that belief that I’d be in the NBA one day, no matter what team.”
Lawson went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft after playing two years for the University of South Carolina. From there, he had stints in the CEBL, then for the Minnesota Timbervolves, the Dallas Mavericks and Raptors 905.
The 25-year-old was playing in the G League for the Long Island Nets when he got the call to play in Toronto.
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In March, Lawson scored 32 points off the bench of the Raptors against the Washington Wizards — a career-high motivated by the goal to prove himself on the court.
“The underdog mentality. I’ve just always wanted to be a better version of myself every day. I feel like the opportunity I got with the Raptors… I got out there, I saw my family in the crowd, it was all that motivation I needed right there,” Lawson said.
While he says he’s looking forward to playing with the entire Raptors roster, Lawson is perhaps most familiar with one: his childhood teammate RJ Barrett.
The two Toronto kids played together for the Brampton Warriors, and in Grade 9 at St. Marguerite d’Youville at Brampton.
Lawson also briefly played with Toronto’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is a top contender for league MVP for his oustanding season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“It just shows that Canadians got game. From 10 years ago till now, I feel like we tripled, quadrupled the number of Canadians in the NBA and it just shows that Canadians can hoop,” he said.
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Lawson last represented Canada at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers in 2021.
He says that competing for the country gives him an “extra boost” to his game, and his goal is to be a part of the roster representing Canada at the next Summer Olympics in L.A.
“My goal is to be in the 2028 Olympics,” he said. “I feel like I can definitely help the team, just my spirit, defensive energy and offensive game, I feel like I can be a key part of that team.”
