Ty Lawson made millions of dollars during an eight-year NBA career. Last week, a $34 bottle of Tito’s vodka led to his arrest.
Instead of showing remorse, the former Denver Nuggets guard went on the attack, repeatedly calling a Castle Rock Police Department officer a “white b*tch” during his arrest before later claiming on social media that he was the victim.
Arron Afflalo and Ty Lawson of the Denver Nuggets react in the first half alongside Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA playoffs on May 12, 2012, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. (Getty Images)
Interim head coach Melvin Hunt leads Ty Lawson and the Denver Nuggets against the Milwaukee Bucks at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo., on March 3, 2015. (Getty Images)
The bottle of vodka was worth $34. Lawson was booked into Douglas County Jail on a shoplifting charge.
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According to the arrest details, Lawson smelled strongly of alcohol during his arrest on July 16. He allegedly took the bottle of Tito’s while intoxicated and was later found by officers sitting at a nearby restaurant.
The retired NBA player then took to social media to defend his behavior, instead launching into a familiar “America is racist” rant on X.
Ty Lawson #3 of the Denver Nuggets controls the ball against the Atlanta Hawks at Pepsi Center on March 11, 2015, in Denver, Colo. The Nuggets defeated the Hawks 115-102. (Getty Images)
According to the arrest report, Lawson repeatedly taunted the officer by calling her a “b—h” and “white b—h” during the encounter.
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He later wrote on X: “Being black in America is tough…. Being lied to by a pasty face white woman wild… stay outta castle rock Colorado!!!!
“This the wildest and more racist s–t I been thru.”
For someone insisting he was the victim of racism, Lawson showed little hesitation in reducing the arresting officer to the color of her skin.
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From 2009 to 2015, Lawson was a key piece of the Denver Nuggets’ backcourt. He also played on Roy Williams’ NCAA championship-winning North Carolina team in 2009.
Many online questioned how a former NBA player who earned more than $40 million could respond to the incident by casting himself as the victim instead of taking responsibility.
One X user responded, “It’s racist to call out someone who made 40 mill and stole a bottle? Such a pathetic victim mentality.”
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Lawson also spent time alongside Chauncey Billups in Denver. Billups is currently under federal scrutiny amid allegations involving illegal high-stakes poker games.
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