Lawrence Roberts (basketball)

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Lawrence Edward Roberts (born October 20, 1982 in Houston, Texas) is an American professional basketball player in the NBA. He was a second round draft pick (55th overall) of the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2005 NBA Draft and was then traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Roberts originally attended Baylor University, but transferred to Mississippi State University in 2003 following the basketball scandal that rocked Baylor's program that year. He was a first-team All-American and the SEC player of the year in 2003-04, leading Mississippi State to its first top-ten national ranking and to its first top-two seeding in the NCAA tournament. In the 2003-04 season he averaged 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds. He was first-team All-SEC and an honorable mention All-American in 2004-2005, finishing third to Jameer Nelson and Emeka Okafor for national player of the year honors. In the '04-'05 season he averaged 16.9 points and 11.0 rebounds.

Roberts played for two years as a power forward for Lamar High School [1], alongside Emeka Okafor of Bellaire High School.

Roberts is the nephew of ABC/ESPN broadcaster Robin Roberts. He also recorded the first triple-double in Mississippi State history against Nicholls State University with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists. He is currently with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA as a backup to center Stromile Swift.