3 studs, 2 duds from Mavericks Summer League opener vs. Thunder

5. Stud - AJ Lawson

In the Dallas Mavericks game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, AJ Lawson made sure to leave an impact, though it wasn’t one that would easily be detected by reading the box score.

Against the Thunder, Lawson finished the game with 11 points, four rebounds, one assist, and three steals, but he shot just 4-of-9 from the field and 1-of-5 from beyond the three-point arc.

While his shooting percentages weren’t ideal, Lawson flashed some serious athleticism and quickness against Oklahoma City, both of which could be useful skills at the NBA level.

He has the potential to be a solid cutter and a menace in transition, and his length allows him to be fairly effective on the defensive side of the ball, too.

Lawson is a 22-year-old guard/forward who spent this past season with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks, playing one game with the former and 14 with the latter.

In addition, Lawson spent time in the G League this past year, playing in nine games with the Texas Legends, averaging 20.1 points per contest.

If Lawson hopes to earn regular minutes at the NBA level, he’ll need to develop a more consistent three-point shot, but the athleticism and energy he flashed in this first game were enough to raise some eyebrows.