June 7, 2008 10:19 PM
Ex-Nugget Posey seeks second ring
By Chris Tomasson
It all started with Paul Silas, who was fitted for a ring after the Seattle SuperSonics wrapped up the 1979 NBA title.
If you don't remember, Silas was a former Denver Nugget. He stopped by for the 1976-77 season after having won titles with the Celtics during two of the three previous seasons.
While Silas barely qualifies, he's still one of just 11 former Denver players who have gone on to win an NBA title with another team.
OK, not that we really need to add the word "another.'' It's well known that, not only have the Nuggets never won an NBA title, they've never even been to the Finals.
So, for now, the way to get an NBA title is to leave Denver. And James Posey, who played with the Nuggets from 1999-2003, is bidding to become the first former Denver player to collect two NBA rings.
Posey is a key bench player for the Boston Celtics. He won his first ring with Miami in 2006, when the defensive specialist also played a key role.
Here's the rundown of former Denver players to have won NBA titles after bolting the Nuggets:
1979: Silas, in the twilight of his career, grabbed his third overall ring two years after his one Denver season.
1983: Bobby Jones was a defensive star with the Nuggets from 1974-78. He got a ring five years after Denver's ill-fated trade of him to Philadelphia for George McGinnis.
1997: The late Bison Dele, who played for the Nuggets from 1993-95, joined Chicago late in the season. But he ended up being a contributor as the Bulls won their fifth of six titles.
1999: The story often has been told of Avery Johnson being waived by the Nuggets on Christmas Eve 1990. He bounced back in a big way, winning a title with San Antonio in 1999 and getting a crazy free-agent contract by the Nuggets in 2001.
2003: Kevin Willis played only briefly for the Nuggets, during part of the 2000-01 season. He rarely got on the court with the Spurs, but still got a ring while watching from the bench.
2003: Mengke Bateer had played sparingly as a Nuggets rookie in 2001-02. He ended up with San Antonio the next season, and wasn't even on the playoff roster. But he still got a ring.
2004: Here's the all-time Finals former Nugget story. Chauncey Billups, whom had an uninspiring tenure with the Nuggets from 1998-2000, was Finals MVP as Detroit won it all.
2005: Devin Brown showed up for a 10-day contract with the Nuggets in 2002-03. Two years later, he was a contributor as the Spurs won their third of four rings.
2006: Posey broke in with the Nuggets in 1999, and played 3 ½ seasons for them. He found his niche with Miami in 2006, and again has found it with Boston.
2006: Michael Doleac finished the 2003-04 season with the Nuggets. He was simply along for the ride when the Heat won its title.
2007: Francisco Elson got erratic playing time with the Nuggets from 2003-06. But he was effective rotating at center with Fabricio Oberto as the Spurs won their fourth ring.
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