Nuggets training camp begins Tuesday. Expecting to see Kenyon Martin? Be patient.
“I think we’ve basically got him on the Nene plan,” Nuggets coach George Karl said of the approach the team took last year when Nene returned from his season-ending injury. “The first couple of weeks we are going to let him fit his way into practice, probably maximum an hour of work per day, and continue to do the individual stuff that we’ve been doing with him.”
No one, and that includes Martin, is willing to risk a setback by doing too much too fast in his return from microfracture knee surgery last season.
Karl wants to see Martin play between 1,500-2,000 minutes this season, with the bulk – as much as 60 percent – from February to season’s end.
“I would say the first two months you’re looking at controlled minutes,” Karl said. “No matter how well he’s playing, he’s probably not going to play much more than what (strength and conditioning coach) Steve (Hess) and (athletic trainer) Jim (Gillen) and the doctors feel would be wise.”
Just getting back in the groove may take time. Martin has played in only 58 games the past two seasons, including just two last season.
New, improved Melo?
Carmelo Anthony begins his fifth pro season after a standout summer with the U.S. basketball team. Karl hopes it transfers to the Nuggets.
“What I hope he learned, and I think he did, I thought this summer he trusted the team,” Karl said. “More than forcing his talent, he just said, ‘Hey, it’ll happen.’ He’ll have more responsibility on our team, but the trust of each other is an imperative part of a championship team.”
Anthony has said he desperately wants Denver to take the next step, out of the first round of playoffs.
“The trust has to be a commitment, and I saw Melo do that this summer,” Karl said. “And I hope that he and (Allen Iverson) and Marcus (Camby) and all the guys will buy in that we’ve got to be a team. It’s one. We have to have a oneness to us this year than ever before.”
Nene update
Nene is still recovering from a calf strain suffered in the FIBA Americas tournament.
“I think everybody wishes he could be a little bit better,” Karl said. “He’ll probably miss a little bit of the first week of training camp.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
