Although there are plenty of spotty moments in Ty Lawson’s lockout experience playing for Zalgiris, the Denver Nuggets point guard will remember the time playing in the second largest Lithuanian city Kaunas in good light.
With the NBA lockout seemingly over, Lawson, like the rest of the players that had signed short-term deals with European teams, has been packing his suitcases and getting ready to fly back home to the States.
Even though the 24-year-old former Tar Heel’s short stay in Lithuania included an online tussle with the team’s fans and both the team’s and Lawson’s individual performances weren’t particularly good during the time, all was forgotten after the player’s last game in Kaunas.
“The time here was good. I’ve learnt a lot of things. I’ve learnt a new culture of basketball, something I wouldn’t have experienced if I hadn’t come over. That was a fun experience for me and I’m sad to go,” the athlete told in an interview to BasketNews.lt after his farewell game on Wednesday.
Although the victory against the Spanish side Unicaja Malaga was only the second one in this Euroleague season for Zalgiris, it kept the team chances of advancing to the Top 16 round alive and Lawson believes that the Greens are still very much in the mix.
“We have a nice little run. [The guys] can beat Zagreb and then have Panathinaikos here [in Kaunas]. If they win those two games, it’s Top 16,” Lawson engaged enthusiastically in trying to pronounce the names of the teams that await Zalgiris.
A couple of mishaps might lead people to think that Lawson was itching to leave Lithuania, but the player himself admits that it will be sad to leave Kaunas.
“I’m not the type of person to leave something in the middle, so it’s sad for me to go. I wanted to make it the Top 16 and the club hasn’t won the Euroleague in a long time,” the player suggestively paused before continuing: “I’d still want that goal, but I have obligations to NBA and have to go back.”
However, Lawson does admit that he is waiting anxiously to go and visit his mother, who he hasn’t seen for quite a while, but at the same time it will be sad to say goodbye to his teammates.
“I’ll miss my teammates, because I’ve been with them for three months and we’ve been bonding, laughing. We’ve been through good times, bad times. I love these guys and I’m kind of sad that I’m going,” the American guard reflected.
Lawson himself admits that he has used the chance to play in Europe to improve his game.
“I missed NBA games a little bit. It’s a different style – it’s faster, more up and down, but I learned a different game here and I’m going to miss it too. I think I’ve improved my pick and roll. Mantas [Kalnietis] is a better pick and roll player than I am and just watching him in practice and going against him has taught me a couple of things I can take back to the NBA.”
Answering whether he'd come back to Europe, Lawson smiled: "The CBA agreement might end in six or ten years and if there’s something like that, I’ll definitely come back. Come to Zalgiris.”
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