Nuggets Host Sixth Annual Special Olympics Clinic

As the pace of their difficult NBA season picks up, players and coaches from the Denver Nuggets were out at the Pepsi Center on Jan. 6, participating and hosting the Sixth Annual Denver Nuggets Basketball Clinic for Special Olympics Colorado.

The Special Olympians came from all across the state of Colorado to participate in the program, as the 125 athletes on hand came from Greeley, Boulder, Pueblo, Fort Collins, and Denver, Colorado.

"This basketball clinic just gets better each year," Chaka Sutton, Vice President of Programs for Special Olympics Colorado, said. "The winter sports season is almost over and our athletes will be playing basketball next; so this is a good way for everyone to get ready for our basketball season."

The Denver Nuggets Dancers were on hand to greet the athletes upon their arrival to the Pepsi Center, while Denver's Strength and Conditioning coach Steve Hess started things off by stretching the athletes out, before breaking the group up into basketball skills stations. Guards Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, and Chucky Atkins taught the dribbling station, demonstrating fundamentals to the athletes, while Linas Kleizas, J.R. Smith, and other Nuggets coaches helped at the shooting station.

"It was great out here today," Nuggets forward, Chris Andersen said. "Not only do the kids get to come out and have a little fun, but we do too. Special Olympics is a great organization and being involved in a program like this is awesome."

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Andersen was joined by Kenyon Martin, Hess, and other Nuggets coaches at the passing station, where athletes we taught a variety of different passes, before playing passing games. Renaldo Balkman, Dahntay Jones, Nene, and other Nuggets coaches hosted the defense and rebounding station. The players were busy teaching the athletes proper defensive play, while also taking time to fool around and entertain the crowd.

After each group practiced at every station, the players and coaches stayed around to sign autographs and take pictures with the athletes, bringing the eventful day to a close.

"Being able to come and visit a team like the Nuggets is really a special thing," said Sutton. "Seeing all of the smiles around here today is what makes this one of the best events of the year for us."