Ramsey: Smith not dysfunctional in Nuggets family

You probably have questions about J.R. Smith, the Denver Nuggets 24-year-old shooting guard. I definitely have questions about J.R. Smith.

Mark Warkentien, the Nuggets general manager, doesn’t have questions about J.R. Smith.

“Oh, he’s great, just great,” Warkentien said Friday as he stood in the Nuggets’ locker room.
“He’s a fabulous kid. You put him with your family, he’s not good, he’s perfect.”

Warkentien glanced at Smith’s locker, where he was talking with a young woman named Aubrie.

“See my daughter over there? See her smiling? Junior is like family at my house. … He’s becoming a better person every day. To me, it’s all good.”

In sports, talent inspires endless forgiveness and hope. That’s good for Smith, who has wandered into all kinds of trouble during his six-season NBA ride.

He was banished by the Hornets. He drove his best friend to his death in a car wreck.

He was suspended by the Nuggets for pouring champagne and spitting on a young woman in a Denver nightclub. He battled with coach George Karl. He was suspended by the NBA for the first seven games of this season.

And that’s a partial list.

But the talent was always there.

“He’s got a chance to be so good,” Warkentien said.

That’s true, and if you doubt Warkentien’s words, just take a look at Tuesday’s win over the Toronto Raptors.

When Smith walked into the game with 5:45 left in the first quarter, the Nuggets trailed by nine and the Pepsi Center crowd seemed half-asleep.

He delivered a happy jolt to the game. Smith scored 19 points in his first 12 minutes, dropped four 3-pointers, dazzled the crowd and crushed the Raptors. Smith finished with 29 points in Denver’s 130-112 win.

Remember, Smith remains an unpolished, unfinished product. When Smith has the ball in his hands, he’s one of the NBA’s most dangerous players.

If he develops a passing game and limits his turnovers and focuses on defense, he could grow into a force who could make this edition of the Nuggets mighty.

Smith’s view of his skills zooms to somewhere far beyond mere confidence, which is part of his problem.

The man never met a shot he didn’t like.

“Some shots might not be good shots for some people,” Smith said.

He laughed before stating his basketball philosophy.

In his mind, he’s always open.

Smith should have played at least two seasons in college. Instead, he vaulted straight from New Jersey high school stardom to the Hornets bench. He struggled with fame and cash and temptation.

In Warkentien’s mind, the struggles are coming to a close. With the help of a patient coaching staff and organization, Smith is ready to enjoy his basketball prime.

“He’s gotten better every month since he’s been here,” Warkentien said.

And, despite everything, nearly everyone appears ready to embrace him.

Last Friday, Smith played for the first time this season at Pepsi Center. He was fresh off his suspension and wondered how the crowd would react.

He heard nothing but a loud, positive buzz. Several thousand fans stood to cheer Smith.

And a young man on his second, or maybe his third, chance stood in the middle of the court, soaking in the sounds of forgiveness.