Lawal joins China’s Flying Tigers

Former Georgia Tech forward Gani Lawal will be the newest addition to Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers following the loss of Kenyon Martin by the Chinese club to the NBA, Yahoo Sports has reported.

Lawal, a 6-foot-9 power forward, was waived both by the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns in training camp and believed to be considering a return overseas to Poland, where he starred for Zastal Zielona Gor during the lockout until China came calling.

Lawal’s rookie season in Phoenix ended after one game when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in June, he wisely decided to take his game to Poland in September where he excelled on both ends of the floor. He averaged 16.4 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in eight games for Zastal and while only playing in the Polish league a short while, Lawal was named the player of the year for the 2011-2012 season by a Polish newspaper.

While some NBA players used the lockout as a basis to stay in shape as they waited out the work stoppage, Lawal’s growth was two-fold in Poland. Not only did he re-condition and rehab with his surgically repaired right knee, he grew in his mental approach to the game as well.

With Zastal, Lawal’s low post game complemented former two-time NCAA champion (2006 and 2007) and Florida Gator Walter Hodge in an up-tempo offense, much like as expected with Xinjiang where former Portland Trial Blazers guard Patty Mills runs the point.

Martin, the former Denver Nuggets forward, agreed to a buyout last week but still cannot sign with an NBA team until after his Chinese Basketball Association season ends in February.