Ty Lawson has gotten himself into some trouble with the law again.
The former Denver Nuggets standout Lawson was arrested on July 16 for allegedly stealing from a liquor store in Castle Rock, Colo., according to a report by KDVR in Colorado. According to an arrest affidavit, Lawson is accused of entered the store and stealing a bottle of Tito’s vodka before leaving.
Lawson allegedly then walked to a nearby restaurant and took a drink from the stolen bottle before proceeding to sit down at the bar area. The store owner said she witnessed Lawson stumbling and advised that he was possibly drunk.
Police then reportedly arrived and arrested Lawson on a charge of theft less than $300, shoplifting. You can read KDVR’s full report on the situation here.
Lawson, now 38, was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft after helping lead North Carolina to a national title earlier that year (a season in which Lawson was also named ACC Player of the Year and the winner of the Bob Cousy Award for best point guard in the nation). Despite standing just 5-foot-11, Lawson played in the league for 8 seasons from 2009-17 and enjoyed a particularly impressive 2012-13 season in which he averaged 16.7 points and 6.9 assists per game for the Nuggets.
Also later playing for the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, and Sacramento Kings, Lawson eventually exited the NBA and played for several years overseas. He suited up for teams in China, Greece, Tunisia, and Venezuela and last played in 2023 for Gaiteros del Zulia, a five-time Venezuelan league champion.
Unfortunately though, this is not Lawson’s first time dealing with legal trouble. He had multiple DUI arrests dating back to his time as an NBA player and once even came to practice allegedly smelling of alcohol.
