Nuggets' Renaldo Balkman Hoping to Turn Around Tough Season

Filed under: Nuggets

DENVER -- At least, Denver Nuggets forward Renaldo Balkman got into a game Wednesday.

Balkman, who has endured a trying season, stepped on the floor for six minutes of fourth-quarter garbage time in the Nuggets' 119-90 win over Oklahoma City -- his first action since Dec. 8.

He signed a three-year, $5 million contract extension last October, locking Balkman up through 2012-13. But he has barely seen the court this season, having microscopic averages of 1.3 points and 2.0 rebounds while getting into just nine games.

It's a season that has included Balkman dealing with legal issues following an arrest on Aug. 22, 2009 in his hometown of Tampa, Fla., on suspicion of drunk driving. He pleaded no contest Jan. 21 to a reduced charge of reckless driving, was fined $500 and $383 in court costs but received a withholding of judification, which means he was not technically convicted of the misdemeanor.

Two weeks after resolving that issue, Balkman got hit in a Feb. 4 practice while posting up guard Ty Lawson. He went down with back spasms and was carted off in a wheelchair/stretcher device.

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/03/04/nuggets-balkman-hoping-to-turn-around-tough-season/