Las Vegas – Julius Hodge’s first welcome-to-the-NBA moment came Thursday during the first quarter of the Nuggets’ 89-65 summer-league win over New Jersey.
Driving to the basket, the Nets’ Jelani McCoy, a seven-year veteran, blocked the guard’s shot and sent him to the floor. But like his fellow Denver rookies, Hodge settled himself into a steady game.
“Early in the night he got some of his stuff blocked. I thought he stayed aggressive,” said Nuggets coach George Karl, who watched from the baseline while assistant Scott Brooks coached.
Hodge finished with 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting, while Denver’s other first-round draft pick, forward Linas Kleiza, shook off a quiet first half to notch 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting and five rebounds. In a sign of how tightly whistled the game was, Kleiza committed an impossible seven fouls.
“It feels good to finally get in the flow, to officially play as a Nugget and to get a win,” Hodge said.
Added Kleiza: “I’m not going to lie to you. It was my first time, so I was kind of nervous.”
Second-year guard Luis Flores led the Nuggets with 16 points.
Brooks gave all three Denver draft picks passing grades. He praised Hodge’s “winning instinct” with and without the ball and said that while Kleiza did foul too much, he got to the basket well.
“I thought they were terrific,” Brooks said. “I love their energy. I love their tenacity, their fearless approach to the game.”
Second-round pick Ricky Sanchez had a quieter night, going 2-for-5 for five points – though both of the 6-foot-11 forward’s baskets came on deep outside shots, including a 3-pointer.
“I think he has a better feel for the game than I thought he was going to have,” Karl said.
After welcoming Hodge, New Jersey’s McCoy made sure to introduce Sanchez to NBA physicality, too. The rookie gave away 40 pounds to the 245-pound veteran.
“He hit me in the paint and I almost crashed,” Sanchez said.
It was only a summer-league game, but it was a start. The lessons continue Saturday when Denver will face Detroit.
Spree eyes reunion
The agent for Minnesota free-agent swingman Latrell Sprewell said his client would welcome rejoining Marcus Camby, his former New York Knicks teammate. However, the Nuggets are not one of the three teams that have contacted Sprewell.
“His best friend is out there, Marcus Camby, and of course George Karl is out there, a great coach,” agent Bob Gist said. “He always loves coaches he can learn from, like (Jeff) Van Gundy.”
Although Sprewell played small forward for the Timberwolves, who are unlikely to pursue him, Gist said his client loves to play two-guard, his more likely position in Denver.
Footnotes
Karl has seen one coach with ties to him get hired this week, with Portland landing his former player, Nate McMillan. He might see another if Milwaukee hires Terry Stotts, his former assistant with the Bucks.
“It’s great,” he said. “I think Nate’s moving into the kind of guy that’s going to make a difference, and I think Terry is in a good place because there’s more patience with familiarity.” …
Nuggets forward Eduardo Najera will host a charity game in his hometown of Chihuahua, Mexico, on Saturday. Nuggets Greg Buckner and DerMarr Johnson are among those expected to attend.
