PHOENIX — This week one year ago, D-League-bound Dahntay Jones was waived by Sacramento, Chris Andersen waited to be reinstated and Nene announced he would undergo chemotherapy.
Now the trio makes up a third of the rotation for a 36-17 Nuggets team talking championship.
It’s just amazing — think about it. Yes, NBA teams are creatively assembled. And maybe the 17- point guy averages just 13, or the shield- like specimen suffers a season-ending injury. But basically, when NBA execs sign a player, they generally can gauge what they’ve got.
Entering this season, however, who knew if Jones could even crack the rotation? Could the Birdman still fly after being cooped up for two years following his drug suspension? And could Nene, the resilient Brazilian, overcome fatigue from testicular cancer — and a history of injuries — to live up to his fading hype?
That’s three big Sarah Palin “you betchas.”
The Nuggets are having their best season as an NBA franchise. History will remember the culture-changing Chauncey Billups, in Phoenix over the weekend for the All-Star Game, and Carmelo Anthony, who is maturing before our eyes. But this team’s foundation is pieced together by grit, hustle and shoulder chips, provided by the comeback kids.
“Dahntay Jones, he played in the D-League last year, and now he’s getting an opportunity of a lifetime,” Billups said. “He’s starting and playing valuable minutes. He gives us the defensive spark that we need.”
The Birdman is fourth in the NBA with 2.02 blocked shots per game, while averaging just 18.7 minutes.
Pride has permeated throughout the league. Said Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, who recruited Andersen when he coached at University of Houston: “I love Chris Andersen. Sometimes as young men we can make bad decisions, but the good thing is you can correct those decisions, and he’s getting a chance to do that and making the most of it. He’s the kind of young man I root for.”
Nene has career-high averages in points (14.7) and rebounds (8.1), while leading the league in shooting percentage (.610). Denver has lost seven of 14 games when he shot less than 50 percent from the field.
“He very well could have been here this weekend,” Billups said.
