Dedric Lawson Set to Remain Lebanon’s Naturalized Player for Upcoming Asian Qualifier Window

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Continuity matters. And for the Lebanese National Team, keeping Dedric Lawson in the mix might be one of the most important decisions heading into the next window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.

The Lebanese federation has confirmed that Dedric Lawson will continue as Lebanon’s naturalized player for the upcoming games against India and Saudi Arabia (KSA) — a vote of confidence in a player who has quietly become one of the most reliable pieces in the national team setup.

Lawson’s numbers with Lebanon speak for themselves:

• FIBA Asia Cup 2025:

  • 14.0 points per game

  • 8.2 rebounds per game

  • Efficiency rating around 18

• World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers (so far):

  • 13.0 points per game

  • 11.5 rebounds per game

  • Efficiency near 18.5

Those are not flashy, headline-grabbing stats. They are better than that — they are winning-player stats.

At 206 cm (6’9”), Lawson gives Lebanon something it has often lacked in recent years: a mobile big who can score inside, rebound consistently, and hold his own defensively without needing the offense to revolve around him. He doesn’t slow the game down. He doesn’t force touches. He fits.

And that fit matters.

Lebanon’s core already features high-usage creators and shot-makers. What the team needs around them is balance, toughness, and someone who cleans the glass. Lawson checks those boxes every time he steps on the floor.

Keeping him for this window also brings stability. Instead of reshuffling the naturalized spot every window, the coaching staff can build chemistry, define roles, and create continuity — something Lebanon has not always enjoyed in past cycles.

The upcoming matchups against India and Saudi Arabia are not “easy” games. They are games Lebanon must win if it wants to stay on track in the qualification race. Experience, familiarity, and lineup cohesion could be the difference between controlling a game and chasing it.

Lawson already understands the system. He understands his teammates. He understands what is expected.

That alone is valuable.

At the same time, the federation continues to explore a higher-profile naturalized option for the summer window — a move aimed at raising Lebanon’s ceiling even further. But for now, the focus is on results, and Lawson gives the team a strong, dependable foundation in the frontcourt.

Sometimes progress isn’t about making big changes.

Sometimes it’s about trusting what already works.

For this window, Lebanon is doing exactly that — and Dedric Lawson will once again wear the Cedars jersey, ready to battle.