Vin Baker offers advice to Nuggets' Lawson: Make your life your No. 1 priority
After being arrested for the second time this year on suspicion of driving under the influence, it's clear Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson needs help.
Former four-time NBA All-Star Vin Baker is prepared to give it to him.
"I wish I could reach out to him," Baker told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports. "I would just give him encouragement no matter where he is at with it. It's a fight, it's real, and it's not to be taken lightly.
"The unfortunate thing sometimes is you have to take a step back from what you've been doing your whole life to deal with something that is life-threatening."
Baker was arrested in 2007 for impaired driving after leaving Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut. The now 43-year-old - currently part of the Milwaukee Bucks Summer League coaching staff - has battled demons in the past, including severe alcoholism and depression.
The Boston Celtics even cut the 6-foot-11 power forward halfway through the 2003-04 season after he failed to adhere to the terms of his alcohol rehabilitation aftercare agreement.
Baker sees Lawson, who will appear in court later this week for a January DUI charge, going down a similar path.
"My advice to Ty Lawson is to make his life his No. 1 priority," said Baker. "I don't know what this means for him as far as suspension or the discipline aspect, but it's important for him to get a hold of it first. The biggest mistake I made was trying to keep basketball as the priority. All the flags were around me.
"Life is bigger than the sport itself."
Lawson has two years and just under $26 million left on his contract, and with his off-court issues, it's going to be extremely difficult for the Denver Nuggets to move him, if they choose to go that route.
If convicted, Lawson, who turns 28 in November, could face between 10 days and one year in jail.
The team drafted Emmanuel Mudiay with the No. 7 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, while also recently signing veteran Jameer Nelson to a three-year deal to shore up their point guard depth. With Lawson's future hanging in the balance, the Nuggets are at least prepared to move forward without him in the picture.