Ty Lawson Returns To Practice Following DUI Arrest, Makes Apologies

DENVER (CBS4) - Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson returned to practice on Saturday after he missed Friday night's game due to personal reasons, which likely was related to being arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated early Friday morning.

While speaking to the media after practice, Lawson wouldn't specifically address what happened, but said he has a Feb. 27 court date, and in the future will take a cab or Uber if he goes out. He also said he has apologized to his teammates, and wanted to apologize to the fans.

"I apologize to them too for everything that went down. On the specifics I really can't comment on it because I'm not convicted on it yet," Lawson said. "Right now it's just a speeding ticket, so can't comment on it."

The Nuggets lost to the Boston Celtics 100 to 99 without Lawson Friday night. Fans at the Pepsi Center said they were disappointed in Lawson. He's easily on of the Nuggets' most popular players.

"He's away from the team so we don't even need to talk about him tonight. He's not playing in the game tonight," head coach Brian Shaw said before the game.

RELATED: Nuggets' Ty Lawson Arrested In Denver On Suspicion Of DUI

Lawson was arrested going nearly double the speed limit on Park Avenue West heading towards the Interstate 25 on-ramp. The officer reported Lawson slurring his words and swaying as he stood. He refused a breathalyzer.

The point guard had been with teammates, coaches and staff at Punch Bowl Social raising money for the Kroenke Sports charity, but that ended 3 hours earlier in the night.

It's no secret that NBA players go to bars to drink during the season, and even on nights before games. Some wonder if a Nuggets team policy may have contributed to Lawson's trouble.

Lawson might have been drinking the night before a game because he thought he'd be fine. Three weeks ago Shaw canceled a morning shoot-around until the afternoon saying, "When you have a young team, you know, guys like to go out as well ... whatever it is they did the night before, maybe they would have more time to recover as well."

Shaw defended his decision on Friday.

"I look at it as no different than if you're an airline pilot, a truck driver, a doctor that has to do surgery the next day. You can still go out and you can still have fun, but you have to know when to be responsible," Shaw said.

Lawson is favorite of fans Joseph and Jacob Stone. They had hoped to see him play Friday night. Instead their father had to tell them a hard truth about their role model.

"Hopefully it's a learning lesson and they understand that you have to make good decision," their father said. "Sometimes you make bad ones and you have to make better ones in the future."

Lawson told police he had a previous DUI out of state.