IJNIP…It’s a Movement

Any player can tell you that playing the game of basketball, isn’t about the money, fame, or publicity. A lot of guys will tell you that they play basketball for the love of the game. Regardless of what it is, people play the game for various reasons.

With all credit to my former college teammate and current Minnesota Timberwolves Forward, Anthony Tolliver, I have taken my focus of “playing for an audience of one” to a different level. Prior to signing to play in the Holy land, I took a trip to Australia this summer not to play for money, or a free vacation, but for God. Meanwhile, Tolliver introduced me to his new clothing line “My Active Faith”, but more importantly, the slogan which is “In Jesus Name I Play” (IJNIP).  You hear coaches all the time say, “play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back”, but the idea of IJNIP is obviously not about playing for your team, but more importantly, Jesus. This idea is one that I used to really focus my athletic ability.

Everyone who is blessed with life is blessed with a gift, whether it’s basketball or not. How that gift is utilized or what is done with that gift is dependent upon the beholder. A lot of athletes, specifically basketball players have been sporting wrist bands that read, “Active Faith” and “In Jesus Name I Play”, but it’s more than just a fashion statement, it’s a conviction and a relationship with Christ, which ultimately is more important than anything else. Myself, and other basketball players believe that we would have never earned the success we have had from playing a game without God. Some current NBA players that sport the Active Faith bands are, Anthony Tolliver, Tristan Thompson, Jeremy Lin, Quentin Richardson, Randy Foye, and more. I personally have got a few teammates on board with IJNIP all the way in Israel. The purpose of this is not to brag or throw my faith at someone or offend anyone, but to help spread the word of God and getting athletes active in their faith and a better idea of what to play the game they love for. If only one person reads this and takes it to heart, it’s one more person that can be saved. No matter what Gods plan is for you, it’s important to be active in your faith and do what you do with humility and purpose. IJNIP

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February 11, 2012

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2011, a Year to Remember!!

As we approach, 2012, I can reflect on the past year and really appreciate the memories and experiences  I’ve been blessed with. It’s easily been the one of the most, if not, the most exciting year of my life. I would say graduating and earning my degree in journalism from Creighton University was the most memorable, but since then, I’ve been blessed with opportunities that don’t come around very often. The quick transition from collegiate basketball to professional is a depiction of how busy this year was for me. Any time you finish school, you’re always presented with the challenge of deciding what you’re going to do with your life as you enter the real world. They say college is one of the best times of your life, but I never really realized it until I left Omaha, Ne this past spring. It’s good for the first time in my life to be able to work and make money and to support myself in ways I never could have before, but it’s no replacement for seeing family on monthly terms, going out with teammates/friends and not having the stresses that a job might cause.

Of course 2011 was the conclusion of my valuable and memorable times in Omaha, but it was also the beginning of what I hope to be a long and successful pro basketball career. Even in the early stages of my rookie season, I think I’ve had a lot of experiences that just don’t occur as often in college basketball. I’ve had some success and failures, but most importantly I was able to learn life lessons on and off the court. After playing for three months in China, I finished averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds, earning all-league honors, but was released just before playoffs. My next step was a one week trip to Australia with Anthony Tolliver to play two exhibition games to better prepare myself for what was to come. Most importantly, I landed a job in Israel with Bnei Hasharon in a league full of NBA talent. I’ve had some good games and bad games during my original two month contract, but did enough to earn a one month extension. With the expiration date of my contract approaching, I’m excited about the possibilities and opportunities that may open up if my contract isn’t extended a second time. For example, a chance to see my family for the first time since August, see a ranked Creighton team play, and more importantly, to see my younger brother play a collegiate game for the first time.

A lot of this year has revolved around basketball similar to almost every other  year of my life, but it’s always exciting when your moving up a step in a specific field, whether it be a sport or not. I was excited about completed my collegiate career, hiring an agent and being paid to play the game I love, but none of those things are nearly as memorable as finishing up my time at Creighton. There are so many people who transfer in an out of schools, especially student athletes, but 2011, to me is memorable because it’s the year I complete my five year journey at Creighton on the court and in the classroom. I never would have thought I would have had the opportunity to come to a place like Creighton and leave with the success I did. I finished my basketball career as a top 20 scorer in school history, top 10 in rebounding, top 5 in blocked shots and number one overall in games played in a Creighton uniform, but most importantly I graduated. I’ve had successes and failures over the past 5 years and more specifically in 2011, but years down the road when I look back, I won’t remember scoring 30 points and 18 rebounds against St. Joes, nor will I remember going from preseason player of the year to coming off the bench, but I will remember graduating from Creighton University as a successful student-athlete and all the coaches and teammates who have supported me and have had the same success in their lives. 2011 was a great year and I’m thankful and blessed to be able to see 2012. God is Good.

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December 31, 2011

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NCAAB

Similar to high school, I move on to division 1, and just like that, high school basketball becomes irrelevant to me. I guess I can make the same claim now about college, but then again, it meant a little more to me than high school did.

As the 2011-2012 seaosn of college basketball starts, although I don’t have much interest, there are a few teams and players that I will be following all season. My younger brother, Quincy Lawson, a 6’6 small forward for Loyola Marymout, my alma mater, Creighton University and my former coaches, who are in the process of rebuilding the Oregon basketball program. In my opinion, each of these are on the verge of a breakout year.

My brother Quincy enters his third season at LMU after taking a medical redshirt his first year due to a major hip surgery, then seeing minimal minutes his freshmen season. Similar to many players, he struggles on and off the court entering college, but as he settles in his third season, I’m expecting a huge season from him. He started the teams first exhibition game and has all the tools to be a good player. Unlike myself, he is a unbelievably athletic with the ability to play three different positions. His team isn’t looking for him to be a star or a scorer, but this is the season he could make a name for himself in college basketball.

After failing to meet expectations year after year, people believe Creighton will be back in the tournament this year. The team is looking good so far after an impressive win in their lone exhibition game. There isn’t much to say about my alma mater, but anything less than an MVC championship or NCAA tournament experience would be a failure. Crazy part is, even after Antoine Young starts his pro career next season, the team won’t be losing much. Perhaps the George Mason or Butler for the next couple years??? I would bet on it.

Lastly, the guys that recruited me six years ago to Creighton, start their second season at Oregon. The program won the College Basketball Invitational over my Creighton squad during my senior year last season, but Dana Altman, Brian Fish and Kevin McKenna and the rest of the staff look to build on the CBI title from last season. Not only is Oregon the Nike Capital of the world, but they also moved into Matthew Knight Arena last season. Things are looking good for the program as they brought in a really good recruiting class. Best of luck to the program over there in Eugene, Oregon.

What actually happens in NCAAB this season really won’t have much of an affect on me, but it’s always good to have bragging rights because of what happens in college basketball. It’s fun to remind my current teammate, Delroy James about how we beat his Rhode Island team on a game winner in the 2008 NIT. I’m looking for LMU, Creighton and Oregon give me more reasons to trash talk.

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November 8, 2011

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No Disrespect, but it’s how I feel…

Sitting here listening to Ambition by Wale and Rick Ross, going into deep thought about the past year of my life. All the negativity associated with my name based on what I did or didn’t do on the court. Thinking about all the people that used my name or the names of my teammates in a bad way. Like Wale says in his song, ”Ambition”, ”they gon’ love me for my ambition, easy to dream a dream, but much harder to live it.” If you have something negative to say about me, my former teammates, or current teammates, there’s a good chance your credibility is no match for your words in regards to the topic in which you chose to criticize. Whether you’re just an unloyal fan or envious for any reason, my teammates and friends, whether it be the present or that past, must have done something right to be the center of negative attention. Playing a sport at the level we have for the past five years takes more than what the average person thinks.  After a terrible game last night, I did an interview and the questions were all negative. For those who sit around and wait for people to fail are usually those who are further from success than those that they direct their attention towards. I wrote this to simply express frustration to negativity towards teammates, coaches and more importantly, friends of mine. As for me personally, I may fail, but I will never give up. Regardless of who it is, your hopes for someone to fail are irrelevant because God has a plan for everyone in life and no individual can alter Gods plan. We live in a world where we want to put others down and have the misunderstanding that you will be ahead of that person, when in all actuality, succes comes to those who are unified and unselfish similar to a five-man, star-studded roster all willing to be role players.  

Always positive, never quitting and ambitious…

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November 7, 2011

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Hoopin’ in the Holy Land

Leaving Creighton University, I never would have imagined myself in Israel for any reason. It’s common for any American to think that it would be a dangerous country because of the surrounding countries, but after my second week of living here, I’ve learned that it’s far from that. My team, Bnei HaSharon has played two games, I’m settled into my apartment and learning my way around the area. My teammates “got game” and they are good guys off the court also. I’m one of seven foreign players which include Tweety Carter, LaceDarius Dunn, Delroy James, Trevor Booker, Jared Mintz and JJ Hickson. Aside from practicing or playing games everyday, I also had a few chances to experience the night life. It’s been a real good time, especially being around the Americans on the other teams including Craig Brackins and Todd Lowenthal, who are guys I have been friends with and played against since high school.

After losing to Jerusalem in overtime, we bounced back today with a two-point win over Maccabi Haifa at our home court. The team has played well as of late and we have been improving everyday. I have played fairly well each game, but there’s always room for improvement. Playing in this league is a real good experience and will certainly help my career going forward. It’s  the top league in Israel and one of the better leagues in the world filled with former and present NBA players who are affected by the NBA lockout.

Originally, I had signed for two months as a replacement for Trevor Booker, who suffered a leg injury, but through the first two games, I think an extension is a good possiblity. The team has the option to extend my contract through the whole season and also for the next season, with a 50 thousand buyout option from a Euro team or a free NBA opt out, but my only focus is doing what I can to help my team to have a good season and hopefully resign for the following season.

http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=Israel&Team=607&Page=1

Take a look at our roster and tell me we don’t have a squad and we got a good Israeli player injured and a good American player injured also.

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October 23, 2011

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Finally Employed

After this past summer/offseason, I don’t know if there is any bigger believer in the saying that ”everything happens for a reason” than myself. I typically believe that everything, in fact does happen for a reason, but there is no doubt in my mind that the Lord works in mysterious ways. Dating back to my sophomore year in high school, it always seemed as if something bad would happen to me that was basketball related, but then a bigger reward would follow. I have gone from a star player to a role player and to a bench warmer in the most critical times of my career. I have experienced enough in my life to not only understand that God has a plan for everyone and everything, but also to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” as stated in the the book of Proverbs 3 verse 5. With an NBA lockout in affect, it has been a hectic process searching for a job ever since leaving China.

I always invisioned myself playing professionally after college, and I had a few options, but nothing that would earn me respect on the international level. As seasons began in the top Euro leagues, I was set to go to Taiwan and sign with the Taiwan Mobile Leopards, after being turned down from a job in the Israeli second division, which was eventually taken by Curtis Kelly of Kansas State, but as we all know, God has a plan for everything. Within a week of being denied the job in the Israeli second division, a job opportunity opened up in the Israeli Premier League. With the help of my agent, Larry Fox and my Israeli agent, Daniel Ravitz, I was offered a deal with Bnei Hasharon, after Trevor Booker of the Washington Wizards was injured. Although my contract on guarantees only two months with options up to the follwing season, this is still an opportunity I would have never expected in my rookie season, especially in a league full of NBA calibur players.

I don’t really consider this whole process a reward for what I’ve done, something I deserve or even my personal story. It’s not about basketball, myself or success. What happens in ones life isn’t nearly as relevant as how they deal with or approach it, whether it is success or failure.

 

 

 

 

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October 6, 2011

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A Friendly Debate

It’s been a while since I’ve had anything interesting to write about, so I figured I would take an interesting turn for this post. Recently,my former college teammate, Darryl Ashford and I had an arguement about the best offensive players in the NBA. The key word in this arguement is “Offensive”. In my opinion there are five players in the NBA who are on a different level than any player in the world. These players are, in no specific order: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant. Out of these five, I personally believe that either Bryant or Durant is argueably the best offensive player. Ashford argued that Carmelo Anthony should be in this discussion and I disagreed. I will not argue that anyone is better than Carmelo, even if that may be the case, but as far as the offensive concern, I don’t think one can make a valid arguement that Carmelo is comparable on the offensive end to Kevin Durant or Kobe Bryant. If this arguement was about who is the overall best player in the NBA, anyone can make a legit case for what I call the top five, but when it comes to who is the best player, offensively, I strongly believe that there is no current NBA player that can be in the discussion with Durant or Bryant.

 Feedback and supporting points for ridiculous claims are welcomed on this topic.

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September 27, 2011

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Australia Trip

This past summer has been a very eventful and memorable one. I’m currently in the middle of a 13 hour flight back to the United States with former teammate/current NBA player, Anthony Tolliver and former Wichita State guard, PJ Couisnard. These long international flights are really getting old, but the experiences I have encountered on my journeys are well worth it. After spending the majority of my summer in China playing in the NBL, I took another trip to Australia, but this one was a little different. Instead of playing for money, I was playing for a better purpose, Jesus Christ, I guess you can say it was more like a mission trip, to not only serve God, but also the Perth Wildcats, which is a professional team in the National Basketball League in Australia.

Myself, Tolliver and Couisnard spent a week in Perth to play on a semi-pro team, the Lakeside Lightning, which is a club funded by Lakeside Baptist Church. Our week consisted of playing basketball, site seeing and most importantly serving God. Although we were a bunch of random guys thrown together on a team, we were able to come away with a win the last game. There are a few people who have sacrificed a lot to make this trip possible and a success. The people in Australia were great to us and took care of us very well. For us to be able to have opportunities like this is really a blessing.

Special thanks to Gary Petersen, the GM of the Lakeside Lighting who arranged for me to fly over to Perth at the very last minute and took care of not only myself, but the other guys who flew over to play. Thanks to the Dunkley family, who hosted me and welcomed me in their home all week.

 

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September 7, 2011

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Offseason Grind

After spending the majority of my summer in China, I have been back home in Oceanside, Ca for almost a week. It’s been really good to enjoy some time with my family and friends. After spending three months in China doing nothing but playing basketball, this feels just like a vacation. I have no responsibilites, and for the first time in my life, I have money to spend on things I really want. It feels good not to have to worry about going back to class on the 23rd of August, but instead waiting for a phone call from my agent at any given moment telling me I have to go to Europe to play basketball. Although I have much time to relax, it’s still really important that I stay prepared. Shooting workouts, strength training and pick up basketball games is the extent of my offseason conditioning. For example, today, I put myself through a tough lower body lift, ran a mile and played some good pick up games with NBA superstars such as, Chase Budinger, Deron Williams, Mo Williams and Richard Jefferson. It was also good to hoop with my good friend Malcolm Thomas, who is headed to Korea in three days. This summer has been a great experience, I have been blessed with so many opportunites, but as it comes to an end, I’m really looking forward to taking my talents overseas once again for the regular season. Until then, I’m in “grind mode” for the remainder on my time in the United States. Hopefully this time I won’t get sent home early.

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August 12, 2011

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Leaving China

My first season as a professional basketball player has been very eventful, but for me, it ended a little earlier than I had expected. Being the youngest and only rookie drafted in the 2011 NBL draft was a great start to my career. I struggled early, but ended the first half of the season averaging 26 points and 13 rebounds per game, while leading the league in scoring. Since then, I had my share of ups and downs, but with two games left in the regular season and playoffs approaching, I was replaced by another American player. I completed 16 games and averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds, which both rank in the top ten in the league. I personally feel I could have played a little better, but for my first time overseas at the professional level, I feel that not only did I improve as a player, but I made a name for myself on the international basketball scene and also made good money, which is rare for a player who recently completed their collegiate career this year. There weren’t any real clear or legit reasons as to why I was released, but even with all the negatives throughout the season, this whole summer was truly a blessing and an opportunity that I won’t forget.

 I would say, it was a little awkward watching the game tonight against Ningxia from the bench, but it’s definitely not something I will complain about because as of right now, I’m still being paid just to be here. Every player wants to see the floor, but there’s nothing wrong with earning money by sitting on the bench, Luke Walton has been doing it for a few seasons now.

As of right now, I’m really happy with my decision to come to China to play, I learned a lot on the court, but the experiences off the court were memorable as well. I have a few more days here in China, to get packed, receive the rest of the money the club owes me and then I’m headed back to America. This whole experience was truly a blessing and without God and the people supporting me such as my family, friends and agent, none of this would have been possible. The next step of my career is most likely going to take me to Europe. The future is bright and I’m look forward to every day of it.

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August 2, 2011

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