A.J. Lawson

Lawson is a Canadian guard who entered the NBA through a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors after a collegiate career at the University of South Carolina. He rotates between the parent club and the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League. Undrafted out of college, he secured his professional foothold through the two-way pathway, logging minutes as a depth guard in the backcourt.

Born on July 15, 2000, Lawson grew up in Brampton, Ontario. He attended GTA Prep in Mississauga, a basketball academy operating out of Mississauga Secondary School, where David Cooper served as his head coach. During his grade 12 season, Lawson earned National Preparatory Association First Team All-Star honors and led the program to a runner-up finish at the NPA championships. Originally slated to graduate in 2019 and ranked 40th nationally by 247Sports and fourth among Canadian prospects by North Pole Hoops, Lawson reclassified into the 2018 class.

Lawson committed to South Carolina over offers from Tulane and Creighton. Head coach Frank Martin initiated recruitment after a late-night workout in Columbia following a tournament trip. As a freshman with the Gamecocks, Lawson appeared in 29 games and averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per contest. He earned Southeastern Conference recognition for his debut campaign.

After going undrafted, Lawson signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors. The arrangement allowed him to move between the NBA roster and the Raptors 905, Toronto—s G League affiliate. He has logged minutes as a depth guard, relying on scoring instincts and backcourt versatility to carve out opportunities at the professional level.

Lawson is a score-oriented guard with a knack for creating offense off the bounce. At South Carolina, he demonstrated the ability to contribute across multiple statistical categories, averaging nearly 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists as a freshman. His game is built on aggressive drives, pull-up jumpers, and transition speed. On the defensive end, he uses active hands and positional awareness despite average size for an NBA wing.

Lawson enters the 2025–26 season as a Canadian two-way contract player with experience in both the NBA and the G League. His path from GTA Prep through the SEC and into professional basketball reflects a developmental trajectory common among international guards who refine their games across multiple levels before securing permanent rotation roles.