Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s a detailed profile of Ty Lawson:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Tywon Ronell Lawson
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born November 3, 1987
  • Hometown: Clinton, Maryland, USA
  • Height: 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 meters)
  • Weight: 195 lbs (88 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 meters)
  • Shoe Size: US size 12
  • Number: Most notably wore 3 and 10
  • Position: Point Guard
  • High School:
    • Attended Bishop McNamara High School in Maryland before transferring to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, a powerhouse basketball program.
    • McDonald’s All-American in 2006.
  • College: University of North Carolina (UNC) (North Carolina Tar Heels) (2006–2009)
    • Key player for the Tar Heels, leading them to an NCAA Championship in 2009.
    • Won the Bob Cousy Award in 2009 as the nation’s top point guard.
  • NBA Draft: Selected 18th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves (rights traded to the Denver Nuggets).
  • Teams Played For:
    1. Denver Nuggets (2009–2015)
    2. Houston Rockets (2015–2016)
    3. Indiana Pacers (2016)
    4. Sacramento Kings (2016–2017)
    5. Played internationally in China and Europe after his NBA career.
  • Championship Rings: None in the NBA but won an NCAA Championship with UNC in 2009.
  • Kids: Lawson has kept his personal life private, and there’s limited information about his family.
  • Siblings: He has siblings but has not shared much publicly about his family background.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Ty Lawson’s archetype was that of a jet-quick lead guard, a classic speed-driven point guard who pressured defenses with burst, paint touches, and table-setting play. Defensively, he competed at the point of attack and could create disruption with his quickness, but his smaller frame naturally limited his matchup range against bigger guards. Offensively, he was a primary ball-handler and drive-and-kick creator who pushed tempo, attacked seams, and balanced scoring with playmaking rather than functioning as an off-ball guard. Physically, Lawson stood 5-foot-11 and played with a low center of gravity, strong acceleration, and the kind of end-to-end speed that shaped his entire game. His play style was built on penetration, pace, transition pressure, and sharp distribution, making him most effective when he could turn quickness into rim pressure and open passing lanes. (Basketball Reference)

Fun Facts

  • Known for his exceptional speed, ball-handling, and ability to penetrate defenses.
  • Averaged 17.6 points and 8.8 assists per game in the 2013–2014 season, his career-best.
  • Ranked among the league’s best in assist-to-turnover ratio during his prime.
  • Career averages: 12.7 points, 6.0 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game.
  • Played in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) with significant success, including stints with the Shandong Golden Stars and Fujian Sturgeons.

Sources:

UNC Athletics — Ty Lawson Bio
NBA Draft — Ty Lawson
Basketball-Reference — Ty Lawson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more