HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — Hours after Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson was arrested on suspicion of yet another DUI in Los Angeles, a basketball camp bearing his name began without him in Colorado.
If you’re looking to find Ty Lawson supporters in Denver, you could normally rely on the families who pay to attend his annual basketball camp in Colorado. But as that camp kicked off on Tuesday morning in Highlands Ranch, there wasn’t much sympathy for the Nuggets guard.
“You can’t miss your own camp,” said Latosha Tyler, who traveled to the camp from Pueblo with her son. “Your name is on it, you can’t miss your own camp.”
Tyler and the other parents first heard that Lawson would be missing his camp on Monday when they received a message from Attitude N’ Altitude Basketball, which cited his “traveling schedule” as the reason why he wouldn’t be taking part.
Hours later, TMZ Sports caught up with Lawson outside a nightclub in Los Angeles before he got into the driver’s seat of an SUV. Shortly after officers caught up with him, arresting Lawson on suspicion of DUI.
“I understand that people make mistakes, but the problem is if it continues to happen and they aren’t able to make the right choices afterwards,” said Daniel Beltran, who traveled from Wyoming to take his son to the camp. “That’s the hard part.”
Lawson was arrested for DUI in Denver in January, and a condition of his bond included no consumption of alcohol. The new charges in California will likely be addressed during his next court appearance in Denver on Friday.
“That just makes it worse,” Tyler said. “The Ty Lawson camp was actually a gift for my son on his birthday. Definitely not a fan, I was a big Ty Lawson fan so definitely done with that.”
Camp director Nick Graham says he’s still dedicated to putting on a great camp. He said registration at this year’s camp had already suffered, likely because of recent headlines indicating Lawson would be traded along with off-the-court issues. Graham said refunds were offered to any parents who canceled because of Lawson’s absence.
“I know who Ty is and I know who he is not, you know, so obviously I am concerned for him as a person,” Graham said. “I just want to see him be the Ty we know and love.”
Not everyone felt the same way Tuesday. Some families who once defended Lawson and took pictures with him at past camps are less concerned if they see him with the Nuggets again.
“I (originally) wasn’t too keen on just saying, get rid of Ty, but at this point it’s like, yeah, not a good look,” Tyler said.
Though Lawson will not be making an appearance at his camp, organizers say NBA player Jimmer Ferdette will work with campers on Thursday or Friday.