From the court to the courtroom: Lamar Patterson balancing basketball and law

Professional basketball player Lamar Patterson has always felt at home on the court – and these days, that includes the legal kind as well.

The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) law student is in his final year of study while continuing his career with the Brisbane Bullets in the National Basketball League (NBL).

Currently sidelined with injury for the remainder of the season, Patterson has turned his focus to completing his law degree online – a pursuit he says has provided both purpose and perspective during recovery.

“I’m a big believer that athletes should have a backup plan, whether you’re great at your sport or not, or your career gets derailed by injury,” Patterson said.

“Sport isn’t something you can do forever – it’s not like being a doctor or a lawyer, where you can keep working into your 60s.

“Obviously, as an athlete you need to put a lot of time into your craft, but having an idea of what you could do after sport, and being able to invest in that while you’re still competing, makes the transition a lot easier.”

Patterson, who was drafted into the NBA in 2014 and played two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, has been a standout in the NBL, playing more than 100 games for the Brisbane Bullets since making his debut in 2018.

His interest in law began during college in Pittsburgh, where he studied criminal justice. His decision to enrol at UniSQ in 2024 was driven as much by family as by ambition, with his wife running her own law firm.

“When I met my wife, she was just finishing her law degree and starting her career. She opened a law firm, Otsanda Law, three years ago and has put a huge amount of time and effort into it, but I could also see that she needed more support,” Patterson said.

“She’s always been really supportive of my basketball career and the sacrifices I’ve had to make, so I thought I could return the favour by doing a law degree while I’m still playing – that way I can help her now and into the future.”

Patterson said UniSQ’s online learning platform made it easy to stay on track alongside the demands of elite sport.

“UniSQ is great. Everything I need is online, and the website is really easy to navigate. If I need a textbook or any resources, they’re all right there,” he said.

“Whenever I need help from a professor, I just send an email and usually hear back within a day. Overall, the experience has been fantastic.”

UniSQ’s ties to the Bullets extend beyond Patterson, with Professor Stephen Bird playing a key role as the club’s High-Performance Director.

“As both Director of High-Performance Sport at UniSQ and High-Performance Director at the Bullets, I see tremendous value in professional athletes continuing their studies during their playing careers,” Professor Bird said.

“It not only prepares them for life beyond sport but also strengthens critical thinking, time management, and decision-making skills that translate directly to performance on the court.

“It is a credit to Lamar that he is completing a Bachelor of Laws at UniSQ, serving as an outstanding role model and inspiration for his teammates and the wider sporting community."

With graduation in sight, Patterson hopes to one day balance game days with court dates as he builds a career in law.

“I’m really looking forward to the future – getting into the law firm, working alongside my wife, and going to court,” Patterson said.

“She takes a lot of pride in her work, and I’ve seen that when I’m in the office or watching her in court.

“I’m still determined to play basketball as long as possible, and my wife fully supports that, but once my career ends, I’ll be jumping into law full-throttle.”

Learn more about UniSQ’s Elite Athlete Program.