38-year-old Lawson arrested for stealing alcohol! With a history of prior offenses, he once played in the CBA after leaving the NBA.

On July 23, local Denver TV reported that former Nuggets player Ty Lawson was arrested, accused of stealing a bottle of vodka from a store in Castle Rock.

The incident happened around 8:03 p.m. on July 16. The store owner called the police, saying a man walked into the store, stole a bottle of Tito's vodka, and left. According to the testimony, the owner told police she saw the man drink directly from the bottle after leaving the store, then head to a nearby restaurant called West Lapi. He took the bottle to an outdoor fireplace area and later sat at the bar with the stolen item.

The store owner said the man was unsteady on his feet and appeared drunk. Police arrived at the scene and arrested him, identifying him as Ty Lawson. Lawson now faces a charge of shoplifting items valued under $300.

At the time, a friend accompanying Lawson was holding the bottle of Tito's vodka and was also briefly detained. After investigation, police determined the friend was not involved in the theft and released him. The arresting officer noted that Lawson smelled of alcohol, and he was booked into the Douglas County jail.

On the night of the 2009 draft, the Nuggets acquired the University of North Carolina star via a trade with the Timberwolves. During his six seasons with Denver, he received votes for Sixth Man of the Year (2010-11 season) and even got MVP votes in 2012-13. He was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2015. His last NBA appearance was in 2018 with the Wizards. His most recent professional stint was in 2023, playing in the Venezuelan league. Lawson also played in China's CBA, suiting up for the Shandong and Fujian teams.

The 38-year-old player has a prior criminal record. As early as his time at North Carolina, he was charged with drunk driving. During his Nuggets career, he was also arrested multiple times for reckless driving, minor domestic violence charges, and DUI. Lawson's total NBA career earnings amount to $43.56 million.