Newest Raptor A.J. Lawson aiming to represent Canada at 2028 Olympics

Tara De Boer · CBC Sports

· Posted: May 02, 2025 10:32 AM EDT | Last Updated: 7 minutes ago

When Brampton, Ont., autochthonal A.J. Lawson officially signed a declaration with the Toronto Raptors this spring, helium called his parents connected the telephone and said, "I'm coming home."

"The younger mentation of myself would astir apt archer you, 'No way,'" Lawson told CBC Sports. "But astatine the aforesaid time, I ever had that content that I'd beryllium successful the NBA 1 day, nary substance what team."

Lawson went undrafted successful the 2021 NBA draft aft playing 2 years for the University of South Carolina. From there, helium had stints successful the CEBL, past for the Minnesota Timbervolves, the Dallas Mavericks and Raptors 905.

The 25-year-old was playing successful the G League for the Long Island Nets erstwhile helium got the telephone to play successful Toronto.

WATCH | Raptors' Lawson riffs connected maturation of Canada hoops, Olympic ambition:

In March, Lawson scored 32 points disconnected the seat of the Raptors against the Washington Wizards — a career-high motivated by the extremity to beryllium himself connected the court.

"The underdog mentality. I've conscionable ever wanted to beryllium a amended mentation of myself each day. I consciousness similar the accidental I got with the Raptors… I got retired there, I saw my household successful the crowd, it was each that information I needed close there," Lawson said.

Hometown kids staying local

While helium says he's looking guardant to playing with the full Raptors roster, Lawson is possibly astir acquainted with one: his puerility teammate RJ Barrett.

The 2 Toronto kids played unneurotic for the Brampton Warriors, and successful Grade 9 at St. Marguerite d'Youville astatine Brampton.

Lawson besides concisely played with Toronto's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is simply a apical contender for league MVP for his oustanding season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

"It conscionable shows that Canadians got game. From 10 years agone till now, I consciousness similar we tripled, quadrupled the fig of Canadians successful the NBA and it conscionable shows that Canadians tin hoop," helium said.

WATCH | Raptors hoping to proceed inclination of uncovering homegrown talent:

Olympic dreams

Lawson past represented Canada astatine the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers successful 2021.

He says that competing for the state gives him an "extra boost" to his game, and his extremity is to beryllium a portion of the roster representing Canada astatine the adjacent Summer Olympics successful L.A.

"My extremity is to beryllium successful the 2028 Olympics," helium said. "I consciousness similar I tin decidedly assistance the team, conscionable my spirit, antiaircraft vigor and violative game, I consciousness similar I tin beryllium a cardinal portion of that team."