The Denver Nuggets held their annual media day Monday ahead of the start of training camp on Tuesday. Here are some of the highlights:
Nuggets will start a new season with a throwback to honor Mount Mutombo: Denver will start the 2016-17 season on Oct. 29 by honoring one of the franchise's best, Dikembe Mutombo. The 7-foot-2 big man's jersey will be hung from the rafters at the Pepsi Center alongside those of Denver greats Byron Beck, David Thompson, Dan Issel and Alex English.
10.29.16 pic.twitter.com/Q24Vn9pb3O
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 26, 2016
The team will also don retro rainbow skyline uniforms for the home opener to honor the eight-time All-Star (three times while with the Nuggets):
We'll be wearing these jerseys at our home opener!
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 26, 2016
💯💯💯 #Nuggets pic.twitter.com/kMSXWclvTS
Denver selected Mutombo fourth overall in the 1991 NBA draft, and the center immediately helped transform the franchise. He spent five seasons with the team before inking a deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Mutombo is still Denver's all-time leader in blocks.
Team enters training camp with postseason confidence: "I feel very confident that we can get anywhere from [the No. 6 seed] to No. 8," forward Darrell Arthur said at media day. "I feel like we can get it." Forward Wilson Chandler mirrored that confidence: "Yeah, for sure," he said. "Just the proven talent that we have and the guys we brought in this year. And I think they can help right away."
Injury update: Nuggets guard Malik Beasley (stress fracture), the 19th overall pick in the 2016 draft, said he's "ready for full training camp," per Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post. Arthur (knee) said he hopes to be available for full practice about "midway" through training camp.
