Denver likes Russell's experience

DENVER -- Bryon Russell has been to the playoffs every year but one and has played in the NBA Finals three times.

It's just the kind of experience the Denver Nuggets could use.

"A player like that can contribute on and off the court," Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik said.

It's easy to see why the Nuggets would think so.

Russell has been to the playoffs in 10 of his 11 seasons, going to the finals with Utah in 1997 and 1998. Though he didn't play much in the playoffs last season, he played a key role off the bench in helping the Los Angeles Lakers get to the finals, where they lost to Detroit.

By adding Russell and Kenyon Martin, who went to two finals with New Jersey, the Nuggets have added a great deal of experience to go with their youthful talent.

"I feel like I can provide some kind of leadership," Russell said. "I know what it takes, Kenyon Martin knows what it takes. We know how to win."

Russell had something rare by NBA standards at the start of his career: stability. He played his first nine seasons with the Utah Jazz after being selected in the second round of the 1993 draft.

Russell provided the Jazz with a steady outside shooter and a superb on-the-ball defender, with his best season coming in 1999-00, when he averaged 14.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and set a career high with 128 steals.

But the steadiness of Russell's career has been in steady decline the past few years. His scoring average has dropped each of the last three seasons and he's going on his fourth team in four years.

No team was willing to offer Russell a guaranteed contract in the offseason, but it's not something he's going to dwell on.

"What is there to be disappointed about? I've had a great career," Russell said.

And the Nuggets believe he still has something left.

A lanky 6-foot-7, Russell can play either small forward or shooting guard and has the quickness to ably defend either position. That could come in handy for Denver, which could use some help behind star forward Carmelo Anthony and offguard Voshon Lenard.

"Experience, internal leadership, on the court leadership, perimeter shooting, a knowledge defensively, there's a lot he can add," Bzdelik said.

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