Anthony Randolph A.J. Lawson was born on July 15, 2000, in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. He is a professional basketball player currently signed to a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors of the NBA and their G League affiliate, Raptors 905. Lawson grew up in Brampton and attended GTA Prep in Mississauga, where he was coached by David Cooper. In his grade 12 season, he earned National Preparatory Association First Team All-Star honors and led his team to second place in the NPA championships. Initially set to graduate in 2019, Lawson reclassified to the class of 2018 and committed to the University of South Carolina, choosing the Gamecocks over offers from Tulane and Creighton. At South Carolina, he played three seasons (2018-2021), averaging 14.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 81 career games. After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, Lawson began his professional career with stints in the NBA Summer League with the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks, followed by time in the G League with teams like the College Park Skyhawks, Iowa Wolves, Texas Legends, and Long Island Nets. He also played for the Guelph Nighthawks in the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022. Lawson signed his first NBA two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2022, followed by a stint with the Dallas Mavericks from 2022 to 2024.