Word Play By: Antonio Valenzuela

As a child who grew up a fan of the Chicago Bulls during their heyday, Ty Lawson has always wanted to be a professional basketball player. On the blacktops of (his Home town) he played basketball, idolizing Michael Jordan. Ask anyone who knows Ty and they will tell you how quick-witted and how much of a practical joker he is. He told us that in middle school he would hide people’s backpacks under different chairs and kids would go frantic looking for their stuff. Now a grown man, he models his game after Chris Paul, but desire to “be like Mike” pushed him to succeed and he eventually ended up playing for Mike’s Alma Mater, the University of North Carolina.

After deciding to return to UNC for his junior season, scouts and basketball analysts were declaring him the best point guard in the country. Breaking the record with eight steals in a game and winning the NCAA Basketball Championship only made him better. A draft day deal landed Ty in the Mile High City, signed with the Denver Nuggets.

The Maryland native was selected 18^th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves and traded immediately to Denver. The Nuggets’ draft deal was a steal. It’s that simple. Ty was the floor general for the Roy Williams’ offense in a title run. Despite being known as a practical joker, Ty is all business when it comes to the court.

Ty went to the same NBA breeding ground high school as Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Stephen Jackson and Jerry Stackhouse, among other players: Oak Hill Academy (Place your order with Mitchell and Ness Now). So, championship-level basketball is no laughing matter for Ty. When I asked him if Chauncy Billups had given him the hometown tour yet, he said, “Not yet. He told me to just worry about basketball.”

His off-season workout regimen with his trainer Ivory, who he jokingly calls “crazy,” helped him get ready for what he described as a big, athletic step up from the college game. His hard work is showing. In a testing back-to-back match-up against the Los Angeles Lakers, Ty had 37 points, seven assists, six steals, and a grand total of one turnover. He shows he is a smart player by limiting his turnovers, even for a rookie.

George Karl is notorious for limiting playing time for rookies, but Ty could very well bend that habit. Kenyon Martin, after a recent practice, was quoted telling his coach, “You better get that out of your system. This kid can help us.” That’s what Ty hopes he can do with his up-tempo, speedy style of play. “I just want to bring some energy off the bench, and bring a change of pace,” he says.

Ironically, as a child his mother called him T-Bird because of his speed, which will help the Nuggets this season. I asked him what part of his game would translate best in the NBA. He said, “Playing the pick and roll. It is hard for guys to guard me off the pick and roll.”

Coming off the tough off-season workout regimen, and getting back from a trip to L.A. and a long two game trip to China, Ty is just getting used to Denver. Having lived in D.C., he said he is used to places staying open later and still has to find the late night food spots. Life is hard in the 303, but I’m sure we can help him out.

Ty said the team has modest goals of “Beat L.A.,” and winning an NBA Championship. Personally, he said to warn all second players because he is going to bring it during the rookie vs. sophomore game. If the champagne is popping in June with the Nuggets holding the Jim O’Brein trophy, you can bet Ty will be hitting the scene to celebrate to the sounds of Soulja Boy, Drake or Lil Wayne, some of his favorite rappers. And, watch out ladies, Ty is single. Hopefully his goals will earn him that Chauncey Billups home tour as well.

Ty Lawson will wear the number 3 this season, and despite critics saying the Nuggets made no moves in the off-season, he? is a huge championship caliber piece, no joke.