Michigan State University Athletics
Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn Jr.: Born To Lead
1/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Ryan Smith, MSU Athletic Communications
In a program that embodies hard work and passion, perhaps there is no one better suited to lead the Spartans than Lourawls ‘Tum Tum' Nairn Jr. In his second year of captaincy, the natural-born leader recognizes that the opportunity in front of him was meant to be.
"It is perfect timing," said Nairn. "I had my roles as a freshman and a backup leader, and now I am the leader of the team. With our best recruiting class ever, I know that it is this way for a reason. You have to have good followers to lead, though. These guys came in and they were so humble. They worked really hard and came in with the mentality to win and play for championships, and that's what has made them so easy for me to be around."
Known for his uncanny ability to lead and motivate, Nairn recognized his ability to positively influence those around him starting at the age of nine. However, his arrival in East Lansing brought opportunities and a setting that would foster those skills and take his leadership to a new level.
As a freshman, Tum Tum played in 39 games, 17 of which he started, spending the year as the understudy of senior point guard and captain Travis Trice. Last season, as a sophomore, Nairn was named a captain and had the guidance of All-American and fellow captain Denzel Valentine. After two years under the wing of fearless and selfless leaders, Tum Tum has combined the lessons he learned with his inherent leadership abilities to continue getting the most out of everyone on the team.
"Those guys just taught me the importance of always helping your teammates," said Nairn. "When I was a freshman, Travis was always doing things in practice to make sure that I did it the same way he did it, and Denzel was doing the same thing for me as a sophomore. For me, I just want to give back what was given to me. I was the freshman point guard and (Travis) was the senior point guard, but he made sure I understood what we were doing, and I want to do that same thing for guys."
Though it's not often you'll catch the 5-11 guard without a smile on his face, Tum Tum's positivity was put to the test last season. Lingering plantar fasciitis caused him to wear a walking boot from the start of the season before eventually forcing him to sit out after playing through the pain for 18 games. More than the pain the injury caused, it was the idea he wouldn't be able to fight alongside his brothers that ate him up the most.
"Playing through that injury has been the biggest challenge for me," said Nairn. "The reason I played through was that I had to play. I knew that I would never play with Denzel again. I would never play with Bryn (Forbes) or Matt (Costello) and Colby (Wollenman) again. I didn't want to waste a second and have that time to be taken away from me. Knowing I would never be able to play with them again was tough because it started to drain me mentally and I had to come to practice every day and fight through this pain.
"We are all going to go through some tough things in life, and we are going to struggle, but there is joy in the struggle, because that is where you build character and persevere. You have to live every day like it's your last and let tomorrow take care of itself."
Having overcome the struggles of leaving the Bahamas at a young age, Tum Tum returned home this season and played in front of everyone in his family, from his mom and dad to his great grandma and cousins. In returning to the place he used to emulate Allen Iverson out on the dirt courts, Tum Tum took his game to another level, as he set or tied a career high in points, rebounds and assists during the Battle 4 Atlantis.
"For me to have an opportunity to play in front of them was a dream come true," said Nairn. "I give my family a lot of hope. I'm one of the youngest in my family, but I rally my whole family together. I just wanted to give them hope that somebody is doing something positive and that I am making a way for them, whether that be in basketball or not, I am going to be able to make a way for them in life. I keep their spirits up all of the time just talking to them and I feel like that was the reason I was born - to serve, inspire and motivate, and I am okay with that."
In the same way his energy and outlook impacts those immediately surrounding him, it was clear to his teammates on the trip that he was inspiring his family and friends in the same fashion, even from hundreds of miles away.
"To see his family and how excited they were at the game was inspiring," said freshman guard Joshua Langford. "Everywhere we went, people would say his name and they knew him. Just to see how many people were rooting for him and knowing who he was is great. He is going to use his ability to make those people be better because of who he is. I just really think it comes down to his attitude and how he carries himself."
From leaving home at a young age, to fighting through physical pain, to leading one of the nation's top recruiting class, having Tum Tum in your family means that he will selflessly fight for you in hopes that it gives you the best possible chance of having success â€" a true Spartan leader.
"Family is what this program is all about. We rely on each other for everything. These guys are my brothers and we all have each other's back, and we all go through hard times, so that is what sold me about Michigan State - it's a real family and has true genuine love and care for people. That will always be us."
