Marcus Camby took recovery into his own right hand Tuesday.
After telling reporters doctors would remove the pins in his injured little finger next week, Camby instead chose to take them out – a decision the doctors left to him. He said this means his recovery is ahead of schedule, though he would not set a timetable. He hopes to begin practicing fully by next week.
Asked why he made that choice, the center said: “When you’re playing with pins that’s pretty much sticking out of your skin, every time you have contact with the ball, it’s going to hurt a little bit. I couldn’t wait another week.”
Camby, who missed his 11th straight game Wednesday, said he expects his hand to be stiff and sore the rest of the season. Coach George Karl said it would probably be a couple of weeks before Camby returns to the lineup.
“There’s a celebration, because Marcus is extremely important to us,” Karl said. “He’s a guy that could have been our MVP.”
Anthony disputes story
According to an ESPN the Magazine article, Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony said a guy from his Baltimore neighborhood named “Tyree” was now working for the “state and the feds” and that he should haven’t done that because he “turned his back on the hood.”
Anthony said he didn’t make that statement and planned to call the reporter to ask him about the quote.
“I never said anything like that,” Anthony said. “Is he working for the feds? How would I know that. That’s crazy. I didn’t say nothing like that. Why would I put that man out there like that?”
LeBron endorses Melo
Three representatives from USA Basketball said hello to Cleveland star LeBron James. While James has reportedly been offered a spot to play for the U.S. at the World Championships in Japan this year, no prospective member is expected to sign a contract until late January at the earliest.
James said he hoped some of his young teammates, such as Anthony, from the Athens Olympics team will return with him.
“They’ve been through it, maybe not with the experience of playing that much,” James said. “We know what to expect when we go to those different countries.”
James, a 2005 NBA all-star, also endorsed Anthony to be an NBA all-star this year.
Footnotes
With Washington buying out Chucky Atkins, the Nuggets may see the market to trade Earl Watson dampened. There is a good chance Atkins could end up in Memphis, a team that had talked trade with the Nuggets, offering forward Brian Cardinal for Watson. … With New York guard Stephon Marbury (sore shoulder) sitting Wednesday in Chicago, Nuggets guard Andre Miller (244 straight games) climbed to fifth on the NBA’s iron man chart. … The Nuggets’ Jan. 27 home game on ESPN against the Los Angeles Clippers has been moved to 7:30 p.m.
