Gani Lawal
Encyclopedia
Gani Oladimeji Lawal, Jr. (born November 7, 1988 in College Park
, Georgia
) is an American
basketball
player with the Phoenix Suns
of the NBA. He played with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball team
for 3 years. A junior, Lawal led the team in field-goal percentage and blocked shots in 2007–2008. Lawal was drafted by the Phoenix Suns
with the 46th pick of the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft. On November 16, 2010, after not playing in any of the Suns prior regular season games, Lawal was assigned to the Iowa Energy
of the NBA Development League
.
During his time at Norcross High School
, Lawal was named to the McDonald's All-American Team
following his senior season and was Mr. Basketball 2007 in Georgia. After originally entering the draft following his sophomore year, Lawal pulled out of the draft on June 14, 2009 to return to Georgia Tech for his junior year.
, snapping a streak of six games in single digits. He also had a game-high nine rebounds in a 77–64 win over Presbyterian
on January 6, 2008.
on December 3, 2008. He had a career-high 16 rebounds in a 63–58 win over Tennessee State
on December 30, 2008. He bettered that mark by one rebound when he pulled down 17 in a 70–56 home loss to Duke
on January 14, 2009.
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Georgia Tech
| 32 || ... || 17.3 || .570 || .000 || .495 || 3.5 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 1.0 || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Georgia Tech
| 31 || ... || 29.7 || .556 || .000 || .559 || 9.5 || 0.6 || 1.0 || 1.5 || 15.1
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Georgia Tech
| 36 || ... || 25.7 || .529 || .000 || .572 || 8.5 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 1.4 || 13.1
|-
| align="left" |
| align="left" | Career
| 99 || ... || 24.2 || .419 || .000 || .752 || 7.2 || 0.4 || 0.6 || 1.3 || 11.8
in the NBA Summer League
in 2010. On August 2, 2010, Lawal signed a contract with the Suns.
He only played one game with the Suns before an ankle injury effectively ended his 2010-11 season. In the two minutes he played against the Detroit Pistons
on December 31st, 2010, he ended up gaining only one foul.
During the 2011 NBA lockout
, Lawal signed with Zastal Zielona Góra
in Poland.
!SEASON
!LEAGUE
!TEAM
!GP
!GS
!MPG
!FG%
!3P%
!FT%
!RPG
!APG
!SPG
!BPG
!PPG
|-
|2011-12
|PLK
|Zastal ZG
|10
|10
|30.6
|.627
|.000
|.561
|11.7
|0.6
|0.6
|1.4
|16.5
College Park, Georgia
College Park is a city located partly in Fulton County, Georgia and partially in Clayton County, Georgia, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,942...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player with the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
of the NBA. He played with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball team
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball team represents the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in NCAA Division I basketball. The team plays its home games in Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Under the tenure of Bobby Cremins, Georgia Tech established itself as a national force in basketball...
for 3 years. A junior, Lawal led the team in field-goal percentage and blocked shots in 2007–2008. Lawal was drafted by the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
with the 46th pick of the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft. On November 16, 2010, after not playing in any of the Suns prior regular season games, Lawal was assigned to the Iowa Energy
Iowa Energy
The Iowa Energy are a 2007-08 expansion team of the NBA Development League, of which they are the current defending champions. They play their home games at the Wells Fargo Arena at Iowa Events Center....
of the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
.
During his time at Norcross High School
Norcross High School
Norcross High School is located in Norcross, Georgia. It is part of the Gwinnett County Public Schools. It serves the cities of Norcross and Peachtree Corners....
, Lawal was named to the McDonald's All-American Team
McDonald's All-American Team
The McDonald's All-American Game refers to each of the all-star basketball games played each year for boys' and girls' high-school basketball graduates. Consisting of the top American and Canadian players, each team plays a single exhibition game after the conclusion of the high-school basketball...
following his senior season and was Mr. Basketball 2007 in Georgia. After originally entering the draft following his sophomore year, Lawal pulled out of the draft on June 14, 2009 to return to Georgia Tech for his junior year.
2007–08
In his freshman season of 2007–08, Lawal scored 10 points on 5-of-6 shots, with four rebounds at DukeDuke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
, snapping a streak of six games in single digits. He also had a game-high nine rebounds in a 77–64 win over Presbyterian
Presbyterian College
Presbyterian College is a private liberal arts college in Clinton, South Carolina, USA. Presbyterian College, or PC, is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA. PC was founded in 1880 by William Plumer Jacobs, a prominent Presbyterian minister who also founded the nearby Thornwell Home and...
on January 6, 2008.
2008–09
In his sophomore season of 2008–09, Lawal scored a career-best 34 points in an 85–83 Georgia Tech loss to Penn StatePenn State Nittany Lions men's basketball
The Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team is a NCAA Division I college basketball team representing the Pennsylvania State University. They are a member of the Big Ten Conference and play home games at the 15,261-seat Bryce Jordan Center, moving there from boisterous Rec Hall during the 1995–96...
on December 3, 2008. He had a career-high 16 rebounds in a 63–58 win over Tennessee State
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:...
on December 30, 2008. He bettered that mark by one rebound when he pulled down 17 in a 70–56 home loss to Duke
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
on January 14, 2009.
NCAA career statistics
|-| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Yellow Jackets is the name used for all of the intercollegiate athletic teams that play for the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. The teams have also been nicknamed the Ramblin' Wreck, Engineers, Blacksmiths, and Golden Tornado. There are 8 men's and 7 women's teams that...
| 32 || ... || 17.3 || .570 || .000 || .495 || 3.5 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 1.0 || 7.2
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Georgia Tech
| 31 || ... || 29.7 || .556 || .000 || .559 || 9.5 || 0.6 || 1.0 || 1.5 || 15.1
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Georgia Tech
| 36 || ... || 25.7 || .529 || .000 || .572 || 8.5 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 1.4 || 13.1
|-
| align="left" |
| align="left" | Career
| 99 || ... || 24.2 || .419 || .000 || .752 || 7.2 || 0.4 || 0.6 || 1.3 || 11.8
Pro career
Lawal played for the Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
in the NBA Summer League
NBA Summer League
The NBA Summer League is a period during which NBA teams come together to try out different summer rosters instead of their regular season line-ups. Typically, there is a mix of rookies and some of the younger bench players to see how well some players work with others...
in 2010. On August 2, 2010, Lawal signed a contract with the Suns.
He only played one game with the Suns before an ankle injury effectively ended his 2010-11 season. In the two minutes he played against the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
on December 31st, 2010, he ended up gaining only one foul.
During the 2011 NBA lockout
2011 NBA lockout
The 2011 NBA lockout is the fourth lockout in the history of the National Basketball Association . The owners began the work stoppage at 12:01 am EDT on July 1, 2011. The main issues dividing the owners and the players are revenue sharing and the structure of the salary cap...
, Lawal signed with Zastal Zielona Góra
Zastal Zielona Góra
Zastal Zielona Góra is a Polish professional basketball team, based in Zielona Góra, Poland. The team plays in the Polish Tauton Basket League....
in Poland.
International career stats
{|class="wikitable sortable"!SEASON
!LEAGUE
!TEAM
!GP
!GS
!MPG
!FG%
!3P%
!FT%
!RPG
!APG
!SPG
!BPG
!PPG
|-
|2011-12
|PLK
|Zastal ZG
Zastal Zielona Góra
Zastal Zielona Góra is a Polish professional basketball team, based in Zielona Góra, Poland. The team plays in the Polish Tauton Basket League....
|10
|10
|30.6
|.627
|.000
|.561
|11.7
|0.6
|0.6
|1.4
|16.5