Tum Tum Nairn, fresh off playing for the Bahamas, ready to continue helping MSU players
DIMONDALE - Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. hadn’t represented his country on the basketball court since he was 16, playing for the Bahamas on their junior national team.
That was before he left to pursue his basketball dream, enrolling at Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kan. and eventually playing four years at Michigan State, where he became a leader and captain for his team and found his second home before graduating this spring.
On June 28, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nairn had to opportunity to play for the Bahamas again in its FIBA World Cup qualifying game against the U.S. Virgin Islands. He scored 13 points on 7-for-10 shooting in his lone appearance – an 84-74 defeat – but Nairn cherished the moment despite the loss.
“The experience was a lot of fun,” Nairn said. “It’s the first time I got to play with them in a while and it always feels great to represent your country.”
Nairn and close friend Buddy Hield, the former Oklahoma standout and current Sacramento Kings shooting guard, got to share the court for the first time representing their country together. The duo played two years together at Sunrise Christian Academy.
“I’m not one of the bigger names like him (Hield), but I definitely try to be a leader for the rest of them,” Nairn said.
Nairn and MSU had the opportunity to play in Nassau, Bahamas, during the 2016 season in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. It was the first time that most of his family and childhood friends got to watch him play live for MSU.
That moment for Nairn was one of the fondest of his MSU playing career. Playing for the Bahamas in Puerto Rico and playing for MSU in his hometown were two very different feelings.
“Playing for the national team, you, know, It’s different, with FIBA rules and international play and what not,” Nairn said. “It was great, but nothing compares to having the opportunity to play for MSU.”
Nairn joined his old teammates at Aim High Sports Complex on Tuesday night, making his first Moneyball Pro-Am appearance alongside senior guard Matt McQuaid and Team Glory. Nairn was matched up with former MSU walk-on guard Greg Roy, who was grateful to have Nairn Jr. back in the Lansing area.
“That’s my guy, we’ve been through a lot together,” Roy said. “He is definitely one of the people that I most look up to. He’s one of the most motivating people that I have ever known in my life. He’s a really good friend and someone who I look up to every day.”
Nairn Jr. had 19 points on 9-for-19 shooting to go along with six rebounds and six assists in Team Glory’s 109-80 win over Team Definition. For now, Nairn Jr. plans to be around the basketball team more and continue to work out and play open gym with them.
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As for preparing them for head coach Tom Izzo once the season gets rolling, that's a different story.
“You just gotta let that happen.” Nairn said while laughing. “They gotta see that for themselves.”
Here is a short highlight video of the Bahamas vs. US Virgin Islands game. Nairn Jr. is wearing No. 4. In black for the Bahamas.