The Saskatchewan Rattlers are the ‘new-guys in town’ in terms of high level sports in our province.
An inaugural member of the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2019, the Rattlers would host the final-four championship weekend, and emerge as the league’s first champions.
While he would be playing in Europe by the time the championship weekend rolled around, a big part of being good enough to complete all season was the presence of forward Tavrion Dawson.
One of the limited imports allowed a team in the CEBL, he averaged a team best 20.1 points per game when playing, and added 6.9 rebounds, second best on the squad.
Dawson was named a CEBL Second Team All-Star.
So while Dawson would leave the Rattlers for a chance with Jamtland Basket of the Basketligan in Sweden where he averaged 18 points and 7 rebounds in 25.6 minutes of action, he has re-signed with the Rattlers for 2020, assuming the CEBL season gets to go.
I caught up with Dawson via telephone from his California home for a chat about his time with the Rattlers.
“It was a different experience,” he said, adding he had not ventured far from California before. Prior to joining the Rattlers in 2019, Dawson spent four years playing for California State University, Northridge (NCAA Division 1) where he averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 29.5 minutes over his collegiate career.
“I enjoyed it. It was good to see something different,” he said, adding the city of Saskatoon was great and very supportive of the team.
It helped too the Rattlers were competitive.
“We had a good team, the best team. It was the perfect situation to go to,” said Dawson.
Dawson said heading north to a new league he had been unsure what the basketball would be like.
“Before I got there I didn’t know what the competition would be like,” he said.
Dawson was ultimately impressed.
“I was a little surprised. I didn’t expect the Canadian (the majority of CEBL rosters) to be that good. The league was better than I thought it would be – the quality of players.”
Adapting to the FIBA rules used by the CEBL proved easy enough too.
“The ball off the rim, I had to remember that during the game,” said Dawson, as that is not allowed in the ‘American’ rules.
“And the three-point line a little closer, that was cool.”
If there was one disappointment with Dawson’s first year in Saskatchewan it was the CEBL season overlapping with the start of league in Europe causing an exodus of players, himself among them, to pursue opportunities across the pond.
“I wish I’d been there (for the championship),” he admitted. “... I wasn’t the only one that left ... I wish I had stayed.”
But Dawson will be back for another run at a back-to-back championship.
“I love the city,” he said, adding the relationships he had with coaches and teammates made a return an easy decision. “... I had fun on the court.”
The CEBL is supposed to launch its 2020 season this Friday.
This is part of a series of columns featuring interviews with athletes from favoured sports, leagues and teams of the author.
Earlier columns are:
Shattler shines with Saskatchewan Rush
