It looks like A.J. Lawson is heading overseas. According to Spanish reporter Chema de Lucas, the former Toronto Raptors guard has agreed to join Saski Baskonia of Spain’s Liga ACB, one of the top leagues outside the NBA. If the report holds true, it’ll bring Lawson’s four-year NBA run to a close, atleast, for now.
The Toronto native has had to earn everything since leaving South Carolina in 2021. After going undrafted, he worked his way through opportunities with the Minnesota Timberwolves before finding a home with the Dallas Mavericks appearing in 56 games across two seasons. Eventually, he got the chance to play for his home country. The Raptors signed Lawson in December 2024.
His time with Toronto wasn’t exactly straightforward. He earned a standard NBA contract, got waived before the season started, then signed another two-way deal just two days later. His best basketball came with Raptors 905.
Lawson averaged 20.8 points, five rebounds and 2.4 assists in the G League, earning All-NBA G League Second Team honours. His play was good enough that the Raptors rewarded him with another standard contract late in the season.
Even with limited minutes in the NBA, Lawson showed he could contribute. Across two seasons with Toronto, he appeared in 50 games and averaged 6.7 points and 2.6 rebounds. He was always solid, though rarely outstanding. And with the Raptors drafting so many guards and wings, including Ja’Kobe Walter, Gradey Dick, and others, there were always players to whom the Raptors felt committed to developing ahead of Lawson.
Now he’ll get a new opportunity in Spain. Baskonia is one of the biggest clubs in Europe and enters next season as the defending Copa del Rey champion. Lawson will also be joining a roster that already includes several former NBA players, including Markus Howard, Chris Duarte, Rodions Kurucs and Kobi Simmons.
Plenty of players have rebuilt their value overseas before finding their way back to the league. For Lawson, this will just be the next chapter of his basketball journey, it doesn’t mean his time in NBA is over completely.
