DENVER — The Denver Nuggets made Montbello Excessive Faculty really feel extra like Ball Enviornment on Friday.
The workforce introduced public handle announcer Kyle Speller, mascot Rocky, DJ Paws the Music, and the Nuggets Dancers to the varsity as a part of a “takeover” of the Particular Olympics Unified basketball recreation between Montbello and visiting Valley Excessive Faculty.
Nuggets gamers Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther had been visitor coaches for every workforce.
“It means rather a lot,” Watson instructed Denver7. “You recognize, I bear in mind once I was their age and I used to be nonetheless an aspiring basketball participant, and I feel that the help from us means every thing to them. So I am glad that we may come out right here and do one thing good for him, and I hope that it was a particular occasion for them.”
Particular Olympics Unified permits gamers with and with out disabilities to play sports activities on the identical workforce.
“Once you choose up a basketball, any variations that may exist actually are damaged down,” mentioned Megan Scremin, President and CEO of Particular Olympics Colorado. “And other people kind significant, real friendships that I feel carry with them lengthy past this basketball recreation, their days in highschool. It actually sticks with them all through their complete lives.”
Kroenke Sports activities Charities helped set up the occasion and donated $1,000 to the colleges. Dustin Cordova, senior activation supervisor for Neighborhood Relations, mentioned the “takeover” occasion began in the course of the 2019-20 season and took a break within the early days of the pandemic. Now, he says, the occasion is occurring at one Unified recreation a season, however he hopes to develop that within the coming years.
“I feel simply, being inclusive, you understand, each faculty we want might be part of this,” he instructed Denver7. “I do know the unified sports activities mannequin is de facto rising rather a lot all through the state and hopefully the nation… Whether or not we’re right here or not, they’re at all times going to play. So simply be sure you’re coming and supporting the athletes.”
Denver Nuggets take over Montbello HS Particular Olympics Unified recreation
Denver Nuggets 2024-25 Schedule
- Feb. 3: vs. New Orleans Pelicans
- Feb. 5: vs. New Orleans Pelicans
- Feb. 6: vs. Orlando Magic
- Feb 8: @ Phoenix Suns
- Feb. 10: vs. Portland Path Blazers
- Feb. 12: vs. Portland Path Blazers
- Feb. 14-19: NBA All-Star 2025, All-Star Break
- Feb. 20: vs. Charlotte Hornets
- Feb. 22: vs. Los Angeles Lakers (recreation airs on Denver7)
- Feb. 24: @ Indiana Pacers
- Feb. 27: @ Milwaukee Bucks
- Feb. 28: @ Detroit Pistons
- March 2: @ Boston Celtics (recreation airs on Denver7)
- March 5: vs. Sacramento Kings
- March 7: vs. Phoenix Suns
- March 9: @ Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (recreation airs on Denver7)
- March 10: @ Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
- March 12: vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
- March 14: vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- March 15: vs. Washington Wizards
- March 17: @ Golden State Warriors
- March 19: @ Los Angeles Lakers
- March 21: @ Portland Path Blazers
- March 23: @ Houston Rockets
- March 24: vs. Chicago Bulls
- March 26: vs. Milwaukee Bucks
- March 28: vs. Utah Jazz
- April 1: vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
- April 2: vs. San Antonio Spurs
- April 4: @ Golden State Warriors
- April 6: vs. Indiana Pacers
- April 9: @ Sacramento Kings
- April 11: vs. Memphis Grizzlies
- April 13: @ Houston Rockets
