 Lawal playing for Georgia Tech | |
| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward /center |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1988-11-07)November 7, 1988 (age 36) College Park, Georgia, U.S. |
| Nationality | Nigerian / American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 234 lb (106 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Norcross (Norcross, Georgia) |
| College | Georgia Tech (2007–2010) |
| NBA draft | 2010: 2nd round, 46th overall pick |
| Selected by thePhoenix Suns | |
| Playing career | 2010–present |
| Career history | |
| 2010–2011 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2010 | →Iowa Energy |
| 2011 | Zastal Zielona Góra |
| 2011–2012 | Xinjiang Flying Tigers |
| 2012 | Zastal Zielona Góra |
| 2012 | Chorale Roanne |
| 2012–2013 | Virtus Roma |
| 2013 | Guangzhou Liu Sui |
| 2013 | VEF Rīga |
| 2013–2014 | Emporio Armani Milano |
| 2014–2015 | Trabzonspor |
| 2015 | Panathinaikos |
| 2015 | Emporio Armani Milano |
| 2015 | Delaware 87ers |
| 2015–2016 | Westchester Knicks |
| 2016 | Reno Bighorns |
| 2016 | Al-Ahli Dubai |
| 2016 | Pallacanestro Cantù |
| 2016–2017 | Dinamo Sassari |
| 2017 | Karesi Spor |
| 2018 | Petrochimi Bandar Imam |
| 2018 | San Lorenzo |
| 2018–2019 | Shiga Lakestars |
| 2019 | Meralco Bolts |
| 2019 | Krka |
| 2020 | Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka |
| 2020 | Iwate Big Bulls |
| 2020 | Ironi Ramat Gan |
| 2020–2021 | Al Rayyan Doha |
| 2021–2022 | Champagne Châlons-Reims |
| 2022 | Trotamundos |
| 2022–2023 | Runa Basket Moscow |
| 2023 | Plateros de Fresnillo |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Gani Oladimeji Lawal Jr. (born November 7, 1988) is a Nigerian-American professionalbasketball player. He playedcollege basketball forGeorgia Tech.
During his time atNorcross High School,[1] Lawal was named to theMcDonald's All-American Team, following his senior season, and was Mr. Basketball 2007 in Georgia.[2][3]
Considered a four-star recruit byRivals.com, Lawal was listed as the No. 7 power forward and the No. 29 player in the nation in 2007.[4]
As a freshman in2007–08, Lawal scored 10 points on 5-of-6 shots, with four rebounds atDuke, snapping a streak of six games in single digits.[3] He also had a game-high nine rebounds in a 77–64 win overPresbyterian on January 6, 2008.[5]
As a sophomore in2008–09, Lawal scored a career-best 34 points[6] in an 85–83 Georgia Tech loss toPenn State, on December 3, 2008.[7] He had a career-high 16 rebounds in a 63–58 win overTennessee State, on December 30, 2008.[8] He bested that mark by one rebound, when he pulled down 17 in a 70–56 home loss to Duke, on January 14, 2009.[9]
After originally entering theNBA draft following his sophomore year, Lawal pulled out of the draft on June 14, 2009, to return to Georgia Tech forhis junior year.[10][11] As a junior, Lawal led the team in field-goal percentage and blocked shots.[12]
Lawal was drafted by thePhoenix Suns with the 46th overall pick in the2010 NBA draft. On August 1, 2010, he signed a three-year deal with the Suns.[13] On November 16, 2010, he was assigned to theIowa Energy of theNBA Development League.[14] He was recalled by the Suns on December 19 and made his NBA debut on December 31, recording one foul in two minutes of action against theDetroit Pistons.[15] His season was later ended on January 6 after he suffered a torn ACL.
During the2011 NBA lockout, Lawal played forZastal Zielona Góra of thePolish Basketball League.[16] After the lockout ended, he returned to the United States. However, he was waived by the Phoenix on December 9, 2011,[17] and three days later, signed with theSan Antonio Spurs. He was waived by the Spurs on December 22 prior to the start of the regular season.
On December 27, 2011, Lawal signed with theXinjiang Flying Tigers to replace the outgoingKenyon Martin.[18] He appeared in 17 games for Xinjiang before being released by the club prior to the start of the2012 CBA Playoffs. He subsequently returned to Zastal, but lasted just three games. In April 2012, he signed with theFrench League clubChorale Roanne for the rest of the season.[19]
In August 2012, Lawal joined theItalian League teamVirtus Roma.[20][21] In July 2013, he has a short stint with ChineseNBL club Guangzhou Liu Sui.[22]
On August 9, 2013, Lawal signed a one-year deal with theLatvian League teamVEF Rīga.[23] However, it was reported that he chose not to travel with the team for a Euroleague qualification match on October 1, 2013. The team's coach also said that he was disappointed with Lawal's attitude.[24] Two days later, he parted ways with VEF Rīga before appearing in a game for them.[25]
On October 5, 2013, Lawal signed with thePhiladelphia 76ers.[26][27] However, he was later waived by the 76ers on October 27 after appearing in six preseason games.[28] On November 5, 2013, he signed with the Italian teamEmporio Armani Milano for the rest of the 2013–14 season.[29]
In August 2014, Lawal signed withTrabzonspor of theTurkish Basketball League.[30] On January 31, 2015, he left Trabzonspor and signed with the Greek powerhousePanathinaikos.[31] On May 11, 2015, he parted ways with Panathinaikos.[32]
On July 14, 2015, Lawal signed a one-year deal with Emporio Armani Milan, returning to the club for a second stint.[33][34] On November 27, he parted ways with Milano after appearing in threeleague games and fiveEuroleague games.[35] On December 1, he was acquired by theDelaware 87ers of theNBA Development League.[36] On December 12, he had a season-best game with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to theWestchester Knicks.[37] On December 30, he was traded to the Westchester Knicks in exchange for a 2016 second-round pick.[38] On January 2, 2016, he made his debut with Westchester in a 106–97 win over Delaware, recording nine points, five rebounds, two steals and one block in 21 minutes.[39] On February 23, he was traded again, this time to theReno Bighorns along with a 2016 fourth-round pick, in exchange for the returning player rights to Ra'shad James and a 2016 sixth-round pick.[40] Three days later, he made his debut for Reno in a 121–115 loss to theSanta Cruz Warriors, recording 11 points and 12 rebounds in 14 minutes.[41] On April 15, 2016, Lawal signed with UAE basketball club Al-Ahli Dubai.[42]
On July 6, 2016, Lawal signed with Italian clubPallacanestro Cantù for the 2016–17 season.[43] On November 29, 2016, he parted ways with Cantù after appearing in nine games.[44] The next day, he signed withDinamo Sassari for the rest of the season.[45]
On July 26, 2017, Lawal signed a one-year deal with Karesi Spor of theTurkish Basketball First League.[46] On January 13, 2018, he moved toPetrochimi Bandar Imam of theIranian Basketball Super League.[47]
In May 2019, Lawal signed with theMeralco Bolts of thePhilippine Basketball Association as their import for the2019 PBA Commissioner's Cup.[48]
On July 8, 2020, he has signed withIroni Ramat Gan of theLiga Artzit.[49] After playing in one preseason game, Lawal parted ways with the team on September 24.[50]
On December 6, 2020, he has signed withAl Rayyan Sports Club of theQatari Basketball League.[51]
On February 21, 2021, Lawal signed withChampagne Châlons-Reims in thePro A.[52]
On June 16, 2022, he has signed withTrotamundos in theVenezuelan SuperLiga.[53]
Lawal has been a member of the senior men'sNigerian national basketball team, playing for the team at the2013 FIBA Africa Championship.
In the summer of 2017, Lawal competed inThe Basketball Tournament onESPN for the number one-seeded FCM Untouchables. Competing for the $2 million grand prize, Lawal averaged 6.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 62% from the field. The Untouchables advanced to the Super 16 Round where they were defeated 85–71 by Team FOE, aPhiladelphia-based team coached byNBA forwardsMarkieff andMarcus Morris. Lawal finished the game with 7 points and 7 rebounds in 15 minutes.[54]
Lawal is the son of American Michelle, and Nigerian Gani Sr. He has two sisters, Khalilah and Chasitie, and one brother, Khalil.[12]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | Georgia Tech | 32 | 25 | 17.3 | .570 | .000 | .495 | 3.5 | .3 | .4 | 1.0 | 7.2 |
| 2008–09 | Georgia Tech | 31 | 30 | 29.6 | .556 | .000 | .559 | 9.5 | .6 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 15.1 |
| 2009–10 | Georgia Tech | 36 | 36 | 25.8 | .529 | .000 | .572 | 8.5 | .4 | .4 | 1.4 | 13.1 |
| Career | 99 | 91 | 24.2 | .548 | .000 | .549 | 7.2 | .5 | .6 | 1.3 | 11.8 | |
Source[55]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | Phoenix | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | – | – | – | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
