The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

LOURAWLS “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr is expected to return home to officially launch his first book, an autobiography entitled “Purpose Driven.”

Nairn is set to host a book signing from 2 to 4pm on Saturday May 11, at Nassau Stationers, Rosetta Street, where patrons will have an opportunity to purchase copies and interact with the former Michigan State Spartan, now a member of the Phoenix Suns staff.

The book details the story of Nairn’s life and his journey from the Bahamas to elite Division I NCAA basketball and beyond. “Wow, I’m an author. Only God can do that! 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!”

Nairn’s role with the Suns is in their front office in player development. “It’s a blessing just to be able to write a book coming where I come from, living in Bain Town in Nassau, just to do that is something special for me,” he said. “It just helps other kids back home to see that they can do the same thing.”

He was in the midst of preparing his pursuit of a professional career on the court when he got the NBA opportunity with the Suns to take his career in another direction and witness the everyday development of DeAndre Ayton.

“It was kind of a crazy thing,” he said. “A week and-a-half before the draft they called me and just loved what I did in college and wanted me to be a part of the organisation.”

Nairn was also a former high school teammate of Buddy Hield at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas before both parted ways for their respective collegiate careers. The two shared a moment prior to the first Suns and Kings matchup this season and Hield heralded Nairn’s new career path as an author. “Tum Tum is like a brother to me. He’s not playing professional basketball but he found a way in the sport to make a living for himself and his family and that’s a great thing,” Hield said.

“I know his book is going to be a success because his story is amazing and he has so many life lessons to share with people. I’m going to buy a bunch of his books and make sure kids back home can have them and be inspired by his story to get to where he is today.”

Before he decided on the Spartans, Nairn received offers from Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Iowa and Arkansas and becomes the first MSU commit for the 2014 class. His stock rose to the 61st ranked basketball player in America for the class of 2014 by Rivals.com and 72nd by ESPN.com.

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 strength within myself that could only be revealed through trials and tribulations.”

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.

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.