On May 23, the Nuggets worked out Francisco Garcia of Louisville, John Gilchrist of Maryland, Joey and Stephen Graham of Oklahoma State, Danny Granger of New Mexico, Mindaugas Katelynas of Tennessee-Chattanooga and Nate Robinson of Washington.

Garcia is a 6-foot-7 guard/forward who averaged 15.7 ppg and 3.9 apg as a junior in 2004-05. Gilchrist is a 6-foot-2 point guard who averaged 13.9 ppg, 5.5 apg and 5.1 rpg as a junior this past season. Joey Graham is a 6-foot-7 forward who averaged 17.7 ppg and 6.2 rpg during his senior season at OK State. Stephen Graham, twin brother of Joey, is a 6-foot-6 forward who averaged 6.5 ppg and 3.2 rpg as a senior at OK State. Granger, a 6-foot-8 forward, was the only player in college basketball to average at least 18.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.4 apg and 2.0 bpg in 2004-05. Katelynas is a 6-foot-9 forward who averaged 11.8 ppg and 8.9 rpg as a senior at UTC. Finally, Robinson is a 5-foot-8 guard who averaged 16.4 ppg and 4.5 apg.

Danny Granger

Nuggets.com’s Dan Tolzman was able to catch up with Danny Granger after his workout for a quick 20 questions:

1. Q: How did your workout go today?

A: I think it went fine. Physically, we were competing hard, and I think it went all right.

2. Q: What was the best part of your workout today?

A: In this workout, I think they wanted you to show your competitive nature. There was a lot of competing going on, and a lot of fouling. I just played through all that and showed what I can do.

3. Q: Is there anything in particular that you are looking to prove to each organization that you workout for?

A: Not really, I’m just trying to play my game. Show them my perimeter skills, how hard I compete and how hard I play.

4. Q: What is your game’s biggest strength?

A: I think it would be my versatility: I am a pretty good defender on the ball, and I can play two or three positions on offense.

5. Q: What is your biggest weakness?

A: Probably … I’m kind of light, so I could probably put on a little more weight.

6. Q: After transferring from Bradley to New Mexico during your sophomore year, how do you think that move has helped you prepare for the NBA?

A: I think it helped a lot. Over the summer I went to a couple of NBA camps and I played well in those. Then I went to a bigger conference and got a lot more exposure. I got to play in the NCAA tournament and the (Mountain West) conference championships. It definitely helped a lot.

7. Q: Do you think you’d be in this same position had you finished out your college career playing for Bradley?

A: I doubt it. I probably would have had to go to some more camps to prove myself, whereas now I’m not going to play in too many camps.

8. Q: Looking back on your college career, what was the best game that you played?

A: Definitely against Utah in the Mountain West championship. I’ve had better games where I put up bigger numbers. But as far as the magnitude of that game and how I performed, I’d have to say that was my best.

9. Q: What are you looking forward to the most about being in the NBA?

A: Just playing. It’s everyone’s dream to play in the NBA, and I think a lot of people don’t realize that it’s a privilege. A lot people see the money and everything, but you’re getting paid to just play ball—you can’t beat that.

10. Q: What is your biggest fear about it?

A: I don’t really have any fears, I am just really excited. I know that I am going to have to keep improving my game. The NBA game is a little different than college, and some of the things that worked in college aren’t going to work in the NBA. So, I just look at it as a challenge and I’m ready to take it on.

11. Q: Do you have a favorite player or role model that you looked up to the most growing up?

A: Michael Jordan. Who didn’t want to be Jordan growing up? I’m sure everyone says that, but I truly did just want to be like Michael Jordan.

12. Q: When did you start playing basketball?

A: I started playing ball … from the moment I could walk—right from the get-go. My dad had a goal up and I was trying to dunk when I was in fourth grade. So, I’ve been playing ball for as long as I could remember.

13. Q: What do you think your biggest challenge is going to be at the next level?

A: I think just getting used to the physicality of it. In college it’s pretty physical, but in the NBA you’ve got 7-foot, 300-pound guys knocking you down for fouls. You’ve got to be prepared to take that pounding on your body, so I’d say the physicality will be the biggest challenge.

14. Q: What will be the first thing that you buy if you get drafted into the NBA?

A: I’d probably buy my family stuff before I buy myself something because my family help me get to where I’m at, especially my dad. So, I’d probably get him like a car or something.

15. Q: What was your favorite subject in school?

A: Math. I was a civil engineering major, so math has always been my favorite subject. I was in civil engineering at Bradley, which is actually why I went to Bradley because it’s an engineering school, so math and science were always my favorite subjects. When I went to New Mexico, I switched my major to communications so I could focus more on basketball, but math was still my favorite.

16. Q: Who is the biggest influence in your life?

A: I’d have to say my dad.

17. Q: Who is your favorite musical artist?

A: My little brother. Definitely my little brother.

18. Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: Favorite movie … "Gladiator."

19. Q: Did you follow the Nuggets at all this past season?

A: Yeah, I did.

20. Q: Finally, how do you think you’d fit in with this team and what do you feel you could add to the roster?

A: I think I could bring a winning attitude to the team. They finished really good toward the end of the season, so I think they now have that winning attitude. They go into the games expecting to win, and I think I can keep that attitude going. I think I can come in and give good minutes, whether I’m a starter or coming off the bench, and I think I can really help them win. I think that’s probably another one of my good strengths because I don’t have to score to affect the game.