January 20, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) drives to the basket during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 121-118 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Ty Lawson No. 18 overall in the 2009 NBA draft. Later that draft night, Lawson was traded to the Denver Nuggets, and all they can say now is “what a steal” it was.

Lawson played at North Carolina and led them to a national championship in 2009. As an All-American in college ball, and several other awards, there was something that held Lawson from being a very high pick in the 2009 draft. Most of the NBA looked over Lawson, and had their opinion that he was too small at 5’11. Add to that fact he was frequently hurt, led them many NBA franchises to pick right over him in the draft.

Eventually signing a multi-year contract with the Denver Nuggets, he has proven to be one of the major steals in the NBA 2009 draft, and if not a top point guard.
Lawson is not a point guard who is going to score 30 points each and every night, but he does a little bit of everything to get everyone involved. As George Karl loves, he’s fast, if not the fastest in the NBA with the ball in his hands, and gets out and runs a fast break offense which makes the Nuggets a very difficult team to overcome. Lawson is one of the many players that make this Nuggets team special.

Lawson has a career 12.5 PPG , 5.1 APG, with a just over 48 percent field goal percentage. These numbers aren’t outrageous, nevertheless Lawson pushes the tempo in every single possession, which makes this team the success they are today.
Currently sitting in the No. 5 and No. 6 seed in the Western Conference tied with the Golden State Warriors, I think this is the year. The NBA and the rest of the world will realize what a steal Lawson was for Denver. Starting to play with more confidence, averaging about 15 PPG, Lawson is going to lead this team to success, and potentially a deep run in the 2013 NBA playoffs.

People around him know he is a talented player in the NBA, but what people do not understand he is going to be great, an elite point guard and lead his team to playoff success. For the No. 18overall pick in the draft, the Nuggets received more than they could have asked for; a dynamic player, who is young, fits into the Karl style of play, and has nothing but success in front of him.