The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE post playing career for Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr begins on the staff with the Phoenix Suns.

Nairn has joined the Suns front office with a role in player development this season, giving him an opportunity to work alongside fellow Bahamian national team member Deandre Ayton.

The former Michigan State Spartans guard also recently announced the completion of his first book, an autobiography entitled “Purpose Driven.”

The book details the story of Nairn’s life and his journey from the Bahamas to elite Division I NCAA basketball and beyond. “I did not write Purpose Driven for people to look at what I went through and say, ‘Wow Tum has been through a lot.’ I wrote it because I wanted people to read what I went through and reflect on what they are going through and say, ‘If Tum can make it through what he went through, I can make it through what I’m going through.’” Nairn posted on Instagram. “By the grace of God, writing this book has been one of my greatest accomplishments yet. I pray you are all inspired and motivated to never give up no matter what you’re going through. You’re going through it, you don’t have to stay there! So don’t stop! Stay tuned for the release date! Stay Purpose Driven.”

Nairn’s final season for the Michigan State Spartans ended with an upset loss in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32, but Nairn was still able to exhibit the leadership that made him a star in the eyes of the coaching staff during his tenure in East Lansing.

He was also a member of the 2015 Final Four team as a freshman, and offered words of insight in the locker room following the loss to place the game in perspective.

A former CR Walker Knight, Nairn was also a member of the Bahamian national team at the both the junior and senior levels. He finished his high school career with the Sunrise Christian Academy Buffaloes in Bel Aire, Kansas. “Ten years ago today, I did the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. At the age of 13 I left home in the Bahamas to follow my dreams of playing basketball. I had no idea what was going to happen, but I took a leap of faith and left my entire family to go to a place I had never been before. I was determined to make the best out of any situation or circumstance that came my way. Early mornings, late nights. Blood, sweat, and many tears,” Nairn said. “Nothing could stop me from chasing my dreams and actually catching them. There were times I wanted to quit. There were times it seemed like nothing good was going to come out of it. But I kept going. The journey definitely wasn’t easy but my hunger to achieve my goals motivated me more than the fear of failure. I found the strength within myself that could only be revealed through trials and tribulations.

Spartans head coach Tom Izzo has always heralded Nairn’s leadership abilities as something that could not be simply measured on a stat sheet. He awarded Nairn the title of team captain for three consecutive years and often called him an extension of the coaches on the floor. “That kid has meant the world to our programme, our community, our team, and to me. I don’t know if there is another Tum out there. He has been rock solid through a lot of things this year, and I love him for that,” Izzo said. “Tum’s not God, but he’s right there.”

Nairn ended his Spartans career with averages of 1.7 points and 2.9 assists per game. After 65 career starts, his numbers in his senior season saw a decline with the emergence of sophomore point guard Cassius Winston.

He was awarded the Stephen G Scofes Inspirational Player Award this past offseason for the third straight year when the Spartans hosted its annual Men’s Basketball Awards Banquet for the 2016-17 season.