Locked out, Andre Miller went looking for basketball games.
The Denver Nuggets point guard wasn’t picky, either. He just wanted to play, joining a parks and rec league he found on the Internet and suiting up for an intramural squad at a local college.
Soon, he won’t have to worry about finding a game.
With a new collective bargaining agreement tentatively in place, the Nuggets were provisionally open for business Thursday. Miller and Chris “Birdman” Andersen were among the first to arrive, anxious to resume working out again.
At first, Miller wasn’t even going to show up. But he was drawn in by a lure to the court so strong that not even a snow storm could stop him.
“I wanted to come and do something a little bit different,” Miller said. “Come and get used to an NBA court instead of playing on some small courts where it feels like nine-foot rims.”
For Miller, being in this building again seemed almost surreal.
He departed Denver with bitter feelings after being dealt to Philly in the December 2006 deal that brought Allen Iverson to town. Reacquired from Portland in a draft-day trade last summer, his emotions now are much different.
Miller couldn’t be more elated, especially with the prospect of practicing again within sight. But Miller tried to temper his enthusiasm. There are still issues—complicated ones at that—yet to be ironed out between the owners and players before anything officially happens.
“It’s good to see guys trickling in, but this lockout isn’t over yet,” Miller cautioned. “We still have to make some decisions and vote and see how it works out. Hopefully, it will work out for the best. If not, we’ll have to rebound and try something else.”
Still, it was a good sign to have the doors opened up again, see the shiny wooden floor just waiting for the players.
“I’ve been playing on some small courts—it didn’t feel like a regulation game,” Miller said. “It feels good to come in here.”
Andersen couldn’t agree more. But as excited as he is for the players being one step closer to playing again, he’s even more thrilled for the employees.
“Gets their jobs back,” he said. “I’m just glad the city’s alive again for NBA basketball.”
The time off did have an ancillary benefit for Andersen—his aching back and a chronically sore knee had a chance to heal up.
“Physically, I feel great,’ Andersen said. “It’s just a matter of getting back into basketball shape.”
While some of his teammates went overseas, Andersen said he had no inkling to follow suit. He simply trained, took some time off, trained some more and rested.
“I’m just waiting to see the results,” Andersen said.
Not knowing the hoops hot spots in the Mile High City, Miller surfed the Internet for places to play.
And once Miller found regular games, he settled into a routine. He was quickly embraced by the basketball community, too, even if they were shocked to see him on the court.
He received quite a few disbelieving stares when he joined a University of Denver intramural league.
“They were like, ”Whatcha doing here?'” Miller recounted. “They know what was going on with all the media hype around the lockout. They embraced me, asked me if I wanted to play with them as a means of staying in shape and I did.
“I think I was one of the older ones in that league. It was a challenge. I didn’t even win that much, but it was a good workout.”
The Nuggets are going to have a new look once the team assembles again. They had three free agents—Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler—bolt for China and they won’t be back.
So now, a priority is placed on bringing back free agents Nene and Arron Afflalo.
Afflalo is restricted and Denver can match any offer. Nene opted out of the last year of his contract and is certain to draw a lot of interest once free agency opens.
“If he goes somewhere else, we’re just going to have to deal with that hole,” Andersen said.
Want Nene back with the Nuggets?
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?” Andersen said. “He’s a big presence in the paint and he’s physical. He’s a great offensive player.
“I just wish he would pass me the ball a little bit more.”
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AP freelancer Joseph C. De Baca in Denver contributed.
