Reduced to stealing alcohol, Ty Lawson's life destroyed by drinking

Yesterday, former NBA and CBA player Ty Lawson found himself back in the public eye thanks to a news story about his arrest. While it's not uncommon for retired athletes to get arrested, the circumstances surrounding Lawson's case are quite unique. He took a $34 bottle of vodka from a shop, later entered a restaurant in a drunken state, and when authorities located him, he hurled abuse at them before being taken into custody.

Clearly, this is a relapse of Lawson's old problem. During his playing days, he had a severe alcohol addiction, with multiple DUI incidents, and he lived a chaotic life. From being a near-All-Star level guard with the Nuggets, he plummeted after leaving Denver, and after being banned from the CBA, he virtually disappeared from the radar.

Lawson was a 2009 draft pick, in the same class as Curry and Harden. As an older, undersized guard who spent three years in college, being selected 18th overall in the first round speaks volumes about his abilities. He played three seasons at North Carolina, leading the team to the NCAA championship in his junior year, where he set a still-standing record with eight steals in the final game. He outshone many talented point guards in his draft class and won the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation's top point guard.

Even in college, he had a DUI on his record, yet the Nuggets still picked him in the first round. After joining Denver, Lawson rode a wave of opportunity. Following the departures of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, he gradually became the leader of that Nuggets team.

In the 2011-12 season, his third year, Lawson became the Nuggets' starting point guard and averaged 16.4 points and 6.6 assists per game. In 2011, he also set an NBA record by making his first 10 three-point attempts in a game, a mark that still stands for consecutive three-pointers to start a game.

At that time, although Lawson was only 5'11", he was extremely fast and a solid three-point shooter, serving as the engine for Denver's "Track Team" under George Karl. That squad, featuring Lawson, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Andre Iguodala, and Kenneth Faried, played an exciting brand of basketball that left a lasting impression on many fans.

In the 2013-14 season, Lawson averaged 17.6 points and 8.8 assists, reaching the peak of his career. The following season, his scoring dipped to 15.2 points, but he still dished out 9.6 assists per game. However, after that season, the Nuggets essentially gave him away, trading him to the Rockets for a low price.

The reason Denver was so quick to let him go was that alcohol had already taken over his mind. In January 2015, Lawson was arrested for DUI, earning a two-game suspension from the NBA. Then in July, during the offseason, he was arrested again for DUI and speeding—while still under probation for his first offense. He was forced into a 30-day rehabilitation center.

Just days after his second DUI, the Nuggets shipped him off to Houston. Such frequent DUIs suggest that Lawson drank even more often, just not getting caught. The Nuggets' president said, "You could smell alcohol on him when he walked into the training facility."

The Rockets acquired Lawson hoping he would form a superstar backcourt with James Harden, but he quickly declined after leaving Denver, averaging only 5.8 points and 3.4 assists. Games where he scored zero points became more frequent, and he was cut by the Rockets before the season even ended. At the time, Harden and Lawson—one a nightclub enthusiast, the other a heavy drinker—seemed like a perfect match.

Lawson then spent two more seasons bouncing between the Pacers and the Kings before the NBA had no place for him. He chose to come to the CBA. In China, Lawson didn't have any drinking scandals—perhaps because there, drunk driving actually leads to jail time.

But even in the CBA, Lawson was restless. While playing there, he kept flirting with the NBA. During the 2018 Chinese New Year break, he returned to the US and negotiated with the Wizards, even considering not coming back. It was only after the Shandong team offered him more money that he returned for the playoffs.

In the playoffs, Lawson scored just 14 points with 6 turnovers in a Game 7 semifinal, far below the level he had shown all season. After the season ended, he quickly returned to the US and signed with the Wizards. It was reported that Lawson had already packed his bags, his mind clearly set on America.

But he still couldn't stick in the NBA. He played another season with Shandong in 2018-19, then signed with Fujian. During that time, he posted an inappropriate photo on social media insulting Chinese women, leading to a lifetime ban from the CBA. Lawson then drifted around, playing in various places, and caused trouble wherever he went, eventually becoming thoroughly disliked by everyone.

While many of the 2009 draft class are still playing today, Lawson couldn't even find a spot in the NBA by age 30. Alcohol completely ruined his physical condition, and then his brain. Lawson has ended up right where he deserves to be.