Former Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe was back at his old stomping grounds Wednesday night.
Vandeweghe gave a motivational speech to the Oracle Corporation before the Nuggets’ game against Atlanta. He didn’t stay for the game, but he did speak to several people from the Nuggets’ organization. It was his first trip to the Pepsi Center since the franchise decided not to renew his contract May 5. Vandeweghe is an NBA analyst for ESPN and he interviewed Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony for a future feature story Tuesday.
“I got to see some of the guys,” said Vandeweghe, who was the Nuggets’ GM from 2001-06. “I talked to (Nuggets assistant) Doug Moe. It was good being back in the Pepsi Center.”
Nene back Friday?
Nuggets’ injured forward-center Nene has pinpointed Friday’s game against Miami as a possible return date from his lengthy knee injury.
Nene missed his 12th straight game Wednesday with a right knee contusion. While the 6-foot-11, 268-pound Nene is experiencing constant soreness, he says he has become more confident in his knee in recent practices.
“You can’t explain your body,” said Nene, who expects limited minutes when he returns. “The (pain) nobody knows but yourself. I didn’t know it was going to take this long.”
Diawara to play for French
French national team men’s basketball coach Claude Bergeaud said Nuggets rookie swingman Yakhouba Diawara would be on the team during the 2007 FIBA EuroBasket Championship in Spain from Sept. 3-16. Diawara didn’t play for France in the 2006 world championships because he was trying to secure an NBA contract.
“We need guys who really can contribute,” Bergeaud said. “Yakhouba is a contributor to European basketball. He plays defense, sacrifices and (adds offense). He doesn’t have to try out. We select during the season and visit them with their teams.”
Footnotes
Nuggets forward Joe Smith missed his third straight game with a right ankle sprain, but expects to play against Miami. … Atlanta center Zaza Pachulia was suspended for Wednesday’s game without pay and assessed a flagrant foul for elbowing the Sonics’ Johan Petro Tuesday in Seattle.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-954-1098 or mspears@denverpost.com.
