Courtesy of Aaron J. Lopez
Q: How did you become interested in bowling?
A: “My mom and dad met in a bowling alley. They were in a bowling league together. Every Friday night and Saturday night I had to go, too. I would bowl on the side for something to do. I think I was younger than 5. I had a tape, but it was VHS. That probably doesn’t work anymore.”
Q: Rumor has it you once rolled a 299. What do you remember about that game?
A: “It was in 2011. All strikes and the last one’s a nine. It was a good roll, too. I think I left the 10 pin. My brother has a 300, so he was holding that over my head.”
Q: Moving from bowling to basketball, the Nuggets are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Denver’s first-round upset of the Seattle SuperSonics in 1994. Being from Seattle, do you remember that series?
A: “I remember the exact day (the series ended). I was at a track meet. I just finished running the 100 and they announced the Sonics lost. “I actually played with Dikembe (Mutombo in Houston), and I hated him with a passion (back in 1994). I just remember him laying on the floor with the ball. It was a bad memory. But after I met hit and talked to him, we’re cool now. I was a big Sonics fan. I can probably name everybody they had on their team, all the way to the 12th man.”
Q: Being a Seattle native, was it a tough decision to play at the University of Oregon instead of going to the University of Washington?
A: “I met (Nike founder) Phil Knight on my recruiting trip. I don’t see how you really say no to Phil. UW wasn’t very good at the time. They had five guards. I just wanted to get away (from home). Oregon was Elite Eight when I got there.”
Q: Now in your sixth NBA season, you’ve been through Denver quite a bit as a visitor. Anything you’ve enjoyed about the city?
A: “It’s so cold, you don’t really get out to appreciate it. Now that I’m here and I brought a jacket, maybe now I can see everything. It seems like a cool city.”
Q: When the Nuggets and Rockets were negotiating at the trade deadline, you had to waive your no-trade clause to allow the deal go through. Was it a tough decision?
A: “I have a lot of family and friends in Houston. I was there almost five years total in my career. The connection I have with them was real close. It’s funny because I actually declined (the trade) at first and then went back and thought about it and okayed it. Denver’s an up-and-coming team. They have talent and I thought it was a good opportunity.”
