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Nuggets' tri-captain job won't be his, Miller says

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 31, 2006 at midnight

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Andre Miller isn't expecting a three-peat.

Miller was a Nuggets tri-captain the previous two seasons. But the point guard, who reported overweight to training camp, doesn't anticipate again being a captain.

"No, I'm not (expecting it)," he said Monday.

That doesn't bother Miller.

"Being a captain is not a big thing," Miller said. "I lead by example on the court. I'm a point guard. I get the guys going. . . . I don't have a problem (not being a captain)."

Miller said he's "talked about it a little" with the coaches, but he wasn't specific when asked if he has been told he won't be a captain or when asked who the captains will be. He said "Melo (Carmelo Anthony) and Marcus (Camby) are guys that are probably deserving of it."

Guard J.R. Smith said "from what I've seen" the captains will be Anthony, Camby and Kenyon Martin. However, Nuggets coach George Karl offered no confirmation.

"I'm not talking about that," said Karl, declining to say whether or not Miller will remain a captain.

Tri-captains the previous two seasons were Camby, Martin and Miller. However, Karl has said he expects Anthony to become a captain, which means at least one from last season will be demoted.

Karl was displeased Miller was not "in the best of shape" when he arrived for camp.

"I'm not out of shape," Miller said. "I just came in a little bit heavier. That hasn't really carried over as far as my performance on the court. As the season goes along, I'll continue to lose the weight."

Miller said he weighs between 210 and 215 pounds. He wants to get down to his listed weight of 200.

"I think everybody knows how important Andre is to us," said Karl, who has stressed the importance of the point guard in his more up-tempo offense. "For us to have a great year, he'll have to have a great year."

INJURY UPDATE: Martin missed practice because of a cut on his right ring finger. He's making no promises how he'll be for Thursday's opener at the Los Angeles Clippers.

"I still got a cut on my hand, my shooting hand," said Martin, who suffered the injury in last Friday's preseason finale. "So I haven't shot anything. We'll see Thursday."

Nene, recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, was limited in practice, but he should return today. With 15-player rosters due, the Nuggets listed Nene, Julius Hodge and Jamal Sampson inactive, but vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said the list has "no relevancy until the hour before the game."

ETC.: Point guard Anthony Carter is staying by the phone. "(The Nuggets) told me to stay ready in case they make a move (with one of their many big men)," said Carter, waived last Wednesday, leaving the Nuggets with only two true point guards. Carter is working out in the Minneapolis area . . . Joe Santos, Nene's former personal assistant who alleges Nene signed a deal granting Santos 6 percent of his income, will have his suit heard by arbitrator Ann Frick on July 30-Aug. 7 . . . With the trend toward teams relying more on numbers, the Nuggets named Dean Oliver director of quantitative analysis. Warkentien called Oliver, previously with Seattle, "one of the best numbers guys." The team also promoted Greg Knight from manager of to director of basketball operations . . . Karl has emphasized defense more in recent practices. "I would be scared to death if I was opening (the season tonight)," he said . . . On last spring's playoffs against the Clippers, Karl said, "We didn't like them, they didn't like us." . . . Nuggets players signed autographs Monday on the 16th Street Mall . . . Before Friday's home opener against Minnesota, American Idol's Ace Young, from Denver, will perform the national anthem.

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