It has been a long journey for Dallas Mavericks guard A.J. Lawson, who is entering his second NBA season.
The 6-6 Canadian starred at South Carolina in his three years there, averaging 16.6 points per game in his final college season. Declaring for the draft after his junior season, Lawson would go undrafted in 2021, forcing him to head to the G-League.
After spending the 2021-22 season with the College Park Skyhawks, Lawson found his way into the NBA via the Minnesota Timberwolves, later signing a two-way with the Mavs in December. In his nine games with the Texas Legends last season, Lawson put up 20.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game with his G-League stint, also splitting time with the Mavericks squad.
Lawson has had little NBA experience up to this point, but after a productive offseason where he bulked up in the gym, he may be in for a minutes increase in his games with the team.
"I feel like I spent a lot of time in the weight room. [I] definitely got stronger, put on a few pounds," Lawson said. "I feel like just me gaining that weight that gave me more confidence."
On top of adding weight to his former 179-pound frame, he has worked to improve his 3-point shot, which has been spotty in the past. In his 42 G-League games, Lawson shot 33.5% from that range, and that number has to be higher if he wants a change to play alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving at some point.
This year, Lawson expects to play solid defense with his long 6-10 wingspan, bringing energy and athleticism while running the floor in transition opportunities.
"I think my role is gonna be defend, space out the floor, run to the corner and then just be me," Lawson said. "In transition I'll get out and run and then show no mercy."
For a team that finished with the fifth-worst defense a season ago, the Mavs hope Lawson can develop into a player that can be a part of head coach Jason Kidd’s rotation at some point, not just a two-way player. Dallas added key defensive upgrades over the summer with Grant Williams, Dereck Lively II, Derrick Jones Jr. and O-Max Prosper, but you can never have enough versatile defenders in today’s NBA.
More must-reads: