The 25-year-old American power forward has signed with the Otago Nuggets this season and is due to arrive in the next few weeks.
The city will be well into autumn by then and it might not resemble his vision of the place.
Before inking a deal with the club, he had a video call with Nuggets coach Brent Matehaere.
Matehaere is the Otago-Southland club development officer for Surf Life Saving New Zealand and took the call while on duty at St Clair Beach.
"I had just got off the water and jumped on a call with him and showed him St Clair Beach and the surrounds on one of those recently really sunny days.
"I think that sold him," Matehaere said, chuckling.
What sold the Nuggets on Lawrence is his ability to play several positions and capacity to create space for a very talented guard lineup.
"We’ve had a deep dive on Kimani. He’s recently returned from Hungary. He is a strong four or five [option for us] and will be able to defend big.
"We’ll be looking to him to provide back-up for Jack [Andrew, at centre] in that space when he is resting and to dominate around the rim when he is on the court with the explosive guards we have."
Lawrence is listed at 2.02m and has had two overseas stints since leaving Arizona State University.
He had a major role with the Lugano Tigers in the Switzerland Basketball League in 2022-23. He averaged 22.4 points and 5.8 rebounds and was on court for an average of 35 minutes.
At Duna Aszfalt, in Hungary, he got about 19 minutes’ court time and averaged 14 points and 4.2 rebounds.
In his senior year at college, he averaged a respectable 10.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in just under 29 minutes.
Lawrence will joint a talented roster featuring Tall Blacks guard Tai Webster.
Guards Dontae Russo-Nance and Ben Henshall are highly rated young prospects.
Andrew has been charged with filling the boots of Sam Timmins, who has signed with the Franklin Bulls.
The other confirmed players are Darcy Knox, Robbie Coman, Matt Bardsley, Josh Aitcheson, Caleb Smiler, Michael Ruske and Benjamen Freeman.
The Nuggets have one import slot still open. That spot is likely to be filled by a shooting guard as early as next week.
