Tywon Lawson, known more commonly as Ty Lawson, is currently in the midst of a career year with the Denver Nuggets. He is currently averaging career highs in scoring, assists, rebounds, and steals.
While his improved play isn’t reflected on his team’s record, Lawson is one of the NBA’s most exciting young point guards. Now emerging as a potential All-Star, Lawson appears to have a bright future.
Early Life
Born on November 3, 1987, Lawson grew up in Forestville, Maryland. At a young age it was clear Lawson had a talent for basketball. By the time he was in the eighth grade he was being recruited by elite basketball academies. Lawson first attended Bishop McNamara High School.
In his sophomore year he averaged 19 points and seven assists. The following year he increased his averages to 18 points, nine assists, and four rebounds. Following his junior year, Lawson was being heavily recruited by some of the top colleges in the nation.
For his senior year he transferred to the prestigious Oak Hill Academy. In his senior season he averaged 24 points, nine assists, and five steals per game. By this point Lawson was regarded as one of the top prospects in the nation, and he was ranked as the ninth best player. On May 12, 2005 he committed to North Carolina.
College Career
Lawson started immediately at North Carolina. He was relatively successful as a freshman, and he took full advantage of his strong supporting class. As a freshman he averaged 10 points, three rebounds, and five assists per game. He led the Tar Heels to a record of 31-7 and finished first in the ACC. In his sophomore season, Lawson failed to make any major improvements.
He finished the season with averages of 12 points, three rebounds, and five assists. Lawson struggled with an ankle injury, causing him to miss a handful of games as well as hurting his development. Once again the Tar Heels were able to win the ACC and advanced all the way to the Final Four of the NBA Championship.
Despite his lack of improvement, Lawson was projected to be a late first round pick in the NBA Draft. However, he as well as his teammates; Wayne Ellington, Danny Green and Tyler Hansbrough all decided to return for another year.
On June 6, 2008 Lawson was pulled over for playing his music too loud. He was then charged with driving after drinking as it was revealed that Lawson had alcohol in his bloodstream. Because his BAC was not above the legal limit of 0.08 he was not charged with a DUI. He was charged for a misdemeanor for driving and having an expired license.
Entering his junior year, Lawson as well as the Tar Heels had very high expectations. Many people picked them as the favorites to win the National Championship. North Carolina was extremely successful and they finished with a record of 34-4. Unfortunately, Lawson went down with an injury, sidelining him for the ACC Tournament. Without Lawson, the Tar Heels struggled and eventually lost to Florida State in the second round.
Despite the poor finish, the Tar Heels were awarded a first seed in the NCAA Tournament. With Ty Lawson back North Carolina cruised through the bracket, winning every game by at least 12 points. They had dominating victories against Oklahoma, Villanova, and Gonzaga. In the Championship game they faced Michigan State, who they easily defeated 89-72.
As a junior, Lawson finished with averages of 17 points, three rebounds, six assists, and two steals per game. He was also named to the second team All-American squad. He was also given the Bob Cousy Award, honoring the best point guard in the nation. Lawson also finished as one of the winningest Tar Heels, finishing with a career record of 101-14. On April 23, Lawson declared for the NBA Draft.
NBA Career
The major concerns with Lawson were his height, personal behavior, and his injury prone ankle. Despite these downfalls, Lawson was exceptionally fast and was considered one of the better defenders in the draft. Lawson was selected 18th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, although he was immediately traded to the Denver Nuggets.
In his first year Lawson served primarily as the backup to Chauncey Billups. In 20 minutes per game Lawson averaged eight points and three assists. After Billups and fellow teammate Carmelo Anthony were traded to the Knicks, Lawson was given the opportunity to start. He finished the season averaging 12 points and five assists per game. In his first season as a full time starter, Lawson showed great improvement. In the lock-out shortened season, Lawson averaged 16 points, six assists, and four rebounds per game. Despite his own improvements, the Nuggets were unable to achieve any postseason success.
In his fourth year in the league, Lawson and the Nuggets had very high hopes. With the new addition of Andre Iguodala, many believed the Nuggets could compete in the West. The Nuggets had the league’s best offense and a record of 38-3 at home. The Nuggets finished with the third best record in the West and had high hopes for the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Nuggets were upset by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. Lawson finished with averages of 16 points, seven assists, and three rebounds.
This season, the Nuggets have struggled to win games in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. With very little supporting help, Lawson has thrived while the nuggets as a whole have struggled. He is currently averaging 19 points, nine assists, and four rebounds per game. Despite the Nuggets struggles, Lawson has a very bright future ahead of him. Despite his small size, Lawson plays like a giant on the court and if he continues to grow as a player, he should have a long and successful career in the NBA.