Former Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson, once a promising point guard in the NBA, found himself in legal trouble again after authorities arrested him on a shoplifting charge in a Denver suburb. The incident occurred on July 16 in Castle Rock, Colorado, where police say the 38-year-old took a bottle of vodka from a local store without paying.
Lawson allegedly entered the store around 8:03 p.m. and left with a bottle of Tito’s vodka, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by local media. The shop owner contacted police right away, describing the man who had walked out with the item. Officers later identified him as Tywon Lawson, the former NBA player known for his quickness and playmaking during his time with the Nuggets.
Witnesses told investigators that Lawson opened the bottle outside the store and took a drink before heading to a nearby Italian restaurant called Scileppi’s. There, he reportedly sat at the bar still in possession of the stolen vodka. The store owner also noted that he appeared to be stumbling, suggesting he was already intoxicated when he left the premises.
A friend who accompanied Lawson was holding the bottle at one point after they departed the store. That individual was briefly detained by police but released once authorities confirmed he was not involved in the theft itself.
“During the incident, Lawson’s friend, who was holding the Tito’s bottle, was also detained, but later released after officers determined he had no role in the shoplifting,” FOX31’s Spencer Kristensen reported, citing the arrest affidavit.
Officers described Lawson as smelling strongly of alcohol when they approached him. He faced a misdemeanor charge related to the shoplifting, with the value of the item estimated at around $300. Following his arrest, he was transported to the Douglas County Jail for booking.
“The arresting officer noted that Lawson emanated the smell of an unknown alcoholic substance,” the report continued. “He was booked into the Douglas County Jail.”
This latest episode adds to a series of off-court issues that have marked Lawson’s life since his playing days ended. Selected 18th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Nuggets out of North Carolina, he quickly developed into one of the league’s more dynamic young guards.
In the 2012-13 season, Lawson posted career-best numbers that placed him 12th in MVP voting. He averaged 16.7 points, 6.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game while helping Denver secure a strong 57-25 record. The following year, he elevated his scoring to 17.6 points and dished out 8.8 assists, drawing consideration for All-Star and All-NBA honors.
Injuries and inconsistencies, however, began to derail his trajectory. Midway through the 2014-15 campaign, the Nuggets traded him to the Houston Rockets. Short stints with the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers followed before he headed overseas to play in the Chinese Basketball Association.
His time in China ended abruptly in September 2020 after social media posts drew widespread criticism. Lawson shared images from a strip club and made explicit remarks about Chinese women, prompting swift action from league officials and his team.
His CBA franchise, the Fujian Sturgeons, cut ties immediately. The club stated that his actions were “inconsistent with the social responsibilities and values abided by our club”. The league went further by blacklisting him, issuing a statement that read, “Respect [is] above game.”
Lawson’s troubles have not been limited to that period. In 2015, he was arrested twice on DUI charges — once in Colorado and once in California. Those incidents, along with probation violations in the years since, have painted a picture of ongoing challenges with alcohol.
Friends and former teammates have occasionally spoken about Lawson’s talent and the potential he showed early in his career. Yet repeated legal problems have overshadowed what could have been a longer, more stable NBA journey.
He earned more than $43 million during his professional basketball career, mostly with Denver.As of now, court records do not indicate a scheduled hearing date.
