Denver Nuggets host Special Olympics Skills Clinic at Gold Crown Fieldhouse

LAKEWOOD, CO — Coming off a highlight reel worthy win against the New York Knicks last night, but they were back to work today hosting 150 Special Olympics athletes for a skills clinic at the Gold Crown Fieldhouse at 150 S. Harlan Street in Lakewood. The Gold Crown Foundation was founded in 1986 by former Nuggets player, coach and currently Altitude TV analyst Bill Hanzlik and his partner Ray Baker.

This was the first time that I’d been to their field house that opened in 2003 and it’s an awesome facility and was perfectly spaced for an event like today’s. The Nuggets could use a practice facility with as much space, really nice setup and I’m jealous that I was too old to play there as a youth.

The Nuggets players, coaches and front office members were on hand to take part in the clinic today. While everyone was an active participant, I’d say the MVPs today go to the coaches (who were all focused on running the athletes through the drills) and the following players: Jusuf Nurkic — was having a blast with the kids and often seen flopping on passes he’d receive from the athletes, Kenneth Faried — accusing one athlete of being a ball hog and helping the younger kids focus on defensive drills, Nikola Jokic — picking kids up and messing with the Comfort Dental tooth mascot and Wilson Chandler — who got dusted while playing defense on a Special Olympic gold medalist swimmer. Honorable mention to Emmanuel Mudiay for teaching some athletes how to dribble between their legs.

Here are a bunch of photos and videos I took today from the event: 

Nuggets PA Announcer Kyle Speller was on hand to emcee the event and introduced the players and coaches above. Speller kept track of the rotating skills stations — defense, fitness, layups, dribbling, shooting, passing — and gave his famous “two minutes remaining” call ahead of rotating each station. Great control of his voice, it was just like being at Pepsi Center.

Steve Hess (above the free throw line) was running the fitness station with the help of Will Barton, Nikola Jokic and Felipe Eichenberger. Barton was having a good time and went nuts a few times with some of the athletes made a shot. Barton also airballed a 3-pointer from the shortened line and quickly looked around to see if anybody noticed — they did.

JaKarr Sampson working with a pair of athletes at the passing station. As always, Sampson had his trademark smile on display (and some killer Jordan’s on) and was heavily involved in coaching at today’s event. The more I see of Sampson, the more I want the Nuggets to retain him. He’s a fantastic chemistry guy and today helped cement that.

Faried was a stickler for defense at the event. He chased one kid around that was dribbling a ball and teasing him about being a ball-hog. He was passing out high-fives and hugs in bunches, too. When it comes to interacting with fans, especially kids, it’s hard to find anyone better than Faried.

Nurkic, Nurkic, Nurkic … this guy is awesome and a giant kid himself. Juka’s size could be a bit terrifying to some children, but he has such a warm personality that they warmed up to him quickly today. Like many guys, he was handing out hugs and high-fives in bunches. In the video above, he was catching passes and getting bowled over by the throws — he’s such a character.

Coach Michael Malone was giving advice on how to flick your wrist after a shot. In the photo above he just got done showing shooting form to an athlete and then high-fiving him. I was surprised to see Malone helping out with shooting drills, he had to be itching to float over to the defensive drills.

Assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr., Mike Miller, Darrell Arthur, Gary Harris and Danilo Gallinari were working on mid-range jumpers and layups with the athletes.

Malone made his way over to another shooting station and can be seen high-fiving an athlete for nailing a mid-range jumper. Assistant coaches Chris Fleming and Ryan Bowen were running this drill, but Malone is taking the credit in the photo as Bowen chases down an errant shot.

Photo time for a couple athletes with Jokic, Barton and Axel Toupane.

Chandler showing off some dribbling moves after receiving a pass from an athlete. In the photos, Chandler was called out to play some defense on a Special Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer and the young man left Wilson in the dust and made the layup. He then celebrated on the way back to the shooting line.

Nuggets head video coordinator Daisuke Yoshimoto (grey shirt on left), GM Tim Connelly (powder blue) and video associate Tommy Massimino (black Nuggets shirt on right) wrapping up the fitness station and the day.

Always an amazing event and it’s great to see the Nuggets interacting with the community and the Special Olympic athletes.

Information on the Gold Crown Foundation: 

Gold Crown Foundation offers youth sports and education programs to nearly 20,000 boys and girls annually throughout Colorado and the surrounding states.  Founded in 1986 by former Denver Nugget player and coach, Bill Hanzlik, and his partner Ray Baker, Gold Crown Foundation’s mission statement is “Educating Youth and Community Through Sports and Enrichment”.  Through our Basketball, Volleyball, Golf, Lacrosse, and Educational Programs, we teach youth life skills and we grant almost $100,000 in scholarships annually to kids ages 8-18.  Gold Crown operates three complexes; Coca-Cola All-Star Park, Jr. Golf Learning Center and Gold Crown Field House.  The 56,000 square foot Gold Crown Field House has approximately 500,000 participants and visitors come through its doors each year.  The facilities allow for youth participation in a clean, safe, and one of a kind environment.  Gold Crown Foundation has made a significant impact on youth and their communities across Colorado since 1986.

Gold Crown Foundation Timeline:

1986: Founded in 1986 to offer girl’s basketball camp
1994: Expanded to year-round basketball operations
1998: Opened Coca-Cola All Star Park in Lakewood, Colorado
1999: Added junior golf programs
2000: Added volleyball programs
2002: Broke ground on Gold Crown Field House
2003: Added technology and art classes, our first “non-sports“ programming
2003: Opened Gold Crown Field House