http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6030911/
Ex-NBA All-Star lists Denver as team
he would play for if he makes a comeback
Ex-NBA All-Star Clyde Drexler reportedly said he would consider making a return to the NBA.
Updated: 5:09 p.m. ET Sept. 17, 2004
The Denver Nuggets might have a Hall-of-Fame guard in their future.
Clyde Drexler, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last weekend, said he would list the Nuggets as on of the team he would play for if he decides to return to the NBA, the Denver Post reported
"If someone with a chance to win a championship would call, I'd consider it," Drexler told the paper. "The Nuggets are certainly one of those teams. If you look at their young talent, they are phenomenal on paper. I know I could do it."
Drexler, 42, hasn't played since retiring from the Houston Rockets after the 1997-season. Still, the 6-foot-7 guard says he runs five miles a day and is certain he could be contributor off the bench. He doesn't expect to the be the player that averaged 20.4 ppg for his career, including 18.4 ppg during his last year in Houston.
But the 10-time All Star doesn't think he would star. He's taking a more realistic approach.
"The whole key is you can't be depended on to be a starter like Karl Malone was with the Lakers," Drexler told the paper. "You're going to have some injuries if you're playing big minutes. But if you can come in and do what Nuggets guard Earl Boykins does and provide a spark for six to eight minutes a half, you can do that on one leg."
Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe played with Drexler in Portland from 1984-88, and he seems intrigued by the idea. And Vandeweghe has a roster spot available at shooting guard and money under the salary cap to sign Drexler.
"You don't realize how unbelievable an athlete and mentally tough he is," Vandeweghe said. "If anyone can do it, he can do it."
Drexler, who runs roughly five miles daily, feels he can stay healthy and play effectively for 20 minutes off the bench.
The Nuggets have Voshon Lenard, who is their only veteran shooting guard under contract. And the team could soon sign swingman Greg Buckner. Still, Drexler appears serious about at least considering the possibility of lacing up basketball sneakers again.
"It would be fun because it's been so long, and it would be like the second part of my career," Drexler said.
Ex-NBA All-Star lists Denver as team
he would play for if he makes a comeback
Ex-NBA All-Star Clyde Drexler reportedly said he would consider making a return to the NBA.
Updated: 5:09 p.m. ET Sept. 17, 2004
The Denver Nuggets might have a Hall-of-Fame guard in their future.
Clyde Drexler, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last weekend, said he would list the Nuggets as on of the team he would play for if he decides to return to the NBA, the Denver Post reported
"If someone with a chance to win a championship would call, I'd consider it," Drexler told the paper. "The Nuggets are certainly one of those teams. If you look at their young talent, they are phenomenal on paper. I know I could do it."
Drexler, 42, hasn't played since retiring from the Houston Rockets after the 1997-season. Still, the 6-foot-7 guard says he runs five miles a day and is certain he could be contributor off the bench. He doesn't expect to the be the player that averaged 20.4 ppg for his career, including 18.4 ppg during his last year in Houston.
But the 10-time All Star doesn't think he would star. He's taking a more realistic approach.
"The whole key is you can't be depended on to be a starter like Karl Malone was with the Lakers," Drexler told the paper. "You're going to have some injuries if you're playing big minutes. But if you can come in and do what Nuggets guard Earl Boykins does and provide a spark for six to eight minutes a half, you can do that on one leg."
Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe played with Drexler in Portland from 1984-88, and he seems intrigued by the idea. And Vandeweghe has a roster spot available at shooting guard and money under the salary cap to sign Drexler.
"You don't realize how unbelievable an athlete and mentally tough he is," Vandeweghe said. "If anyone can do it, he can do it."
Drexler, who runs roughly five miles daily, feels he can stay healthy and play effectively for 20 minutes off the bench.
The Nuggets have Voshon Lenard, who is their only veteran shooting guard under contract. And the team could soon sign swingman Greg Buckner. Still, Drexler appears serious about at least considering the possibility of lacing up basketball sneakers again.
"It would be fun because it's been so long, and it would be like the second part of my career," Drexler said.
