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Nuggets storm Auraria with Dunlap in tow
By Jeremy Johnson
jjohn308@mscd.edu

Photo by Jason Small • jsmall4@mscd.edu Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony shows his skills with a slam dunk during an open scrimmage at the Auraria Event Center Oct. 9. as Marcus Camby, Joe Smith, Courtney Alexander, Kenyon Martin and Reggie Evans look on. Former Metro men’s basketball coach Mike Dunlap made his first return to the ‘Runners’ homecourt since taking an assistant coaching position with the Nuggets in August.

Sitting on the sideline with a notebook in hand and intensity in his eyes, Mike Dunlap looked like the same coach Metro had grown to love and respect over the past nine years. The only difference was that Dunlap’s muse no longer aids the Metro men’s basketball team, but a slightly better known squad named the Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets held their annual Blue/White intrasquad scrimmage at the Auraria Event Center gymnasium Oct. 9 in front of 1,200 Denver public school children as well as many Metro students, athletes, media and school administrators.

“It’s really special having this event here,” Metro president Stephen Jordan said. “I think it’s nice, with coach Dunlap having just gone to the Nuggets, for him to come back and for coach (George) Karl to bring the (Nuggets) here. But, more importantly, to bring all these kids from the Denver public schools, because it gives them a little exposure to the college.”

The children were also given exposure to the celebrity athletes of the Denver Nuggets. While the children seemed particularly enamored with popular players such as Carmelo Anthony and Andre Miller, Nuggets mascot Rocky and his childlike antics also gained attention from the youths.

“I don’t think (the Nuggets) will ever get a more enthusiastic crowd than they got today,” Jordan said.

Though most of the older audience members seemed to focus on the players, many who were familiar with the school’s sports history were keeping an eye on Dunlap.

“It was kind of bittersweet having him here,” Metro athletic director Joan McDermott said. “I think for him, too, it was a little emotional being back here.”

According to McDermott, all NBA teams are required to hold one open scrimmage session prior to the season’s start. McDermott said that although Dunlap contacted her about bringing the event to the campus, it was originally Karl’s idea.

“I think (Karl) was trying to figure out ways to give back to Metro State, since he stole coach Dunlap,” McDermott said with a smile. “Hopefully we can continue to do this.”

Roadrunners coach Brannon Hays was also present to watch his old boss open a new bag of tricks.

“It’s exciting to see him in his new role, and it’s exciting to get the (Nuggets) out here,” Hays said. “It gives us a lot of exposure as a college community.”

Hays said he has kept up correspondence with Dunlap and that his mentor is adjusting well to the professional level.

“He’s on a big learning curve right now,” Hays said. “It’s the NBA, and right now he’s learning all the new schemes that the Nuggets do.”