COVER STORY: AI & Melo
Mile high and rising, the Nuggets superstars go for the gold.
by Russ Bengtson
This is where I get to tell you about the cover and the cover story. If you’re not interested in that, go read something else.
As you can see (and as you’ve been able to see on New York area newsstands for a while now), it’s Carmelo and AI on 115. And they look…happy. Not the usual SLAM scowls. This was by design, of course, but in this case it didn’t take much prompting. These guys are happy to play together, happy to share the spotlight, as long as they get where they want to go: the NBA Finals. This will not be easy, but at the moment the Nuggets lead the Northwest Division with an 18-11 record, and the two superstars have done a great deal to get them there.
The reason I got to do the story was simple: serendipity. The shoot was scheduled to take place in Denver over the Thanksgiving break, and I was already going to be in Colorado, visiting my sister in (somewhat) nearby Greeley. I’d written about Iverson—most notably the “Soul On Ice” issue 32 cover story—and Melo before, but never together. And somehow I’d never even been to an NBA game in Denver, either.
Now, seeing that this was an Iverson cover, there was no way it would get shot on the first day. And it didn’t. As Atiba Jefferson and crew set up and I arrived to catch the team post-practice, word got out that Iverson was off getting an MRI (for what, I’m still not sure—elbow, I believe). Which meant he wasn’t at practice. Which meant the shoot wasn’t happening. No problem—Atiba and I had both been through this before. The shoot was re-scheduled for post-shootaround the following day.
Iverson wasn’t the only Nugget who missed practice—only eight guys dressed, and they had to fill out the roster with assistant coaches and D-League types. As we waited to go out on the court, another tall figure stepped off the elevator—veteran Stacey Augmon, who had just been re-signed (and would be active for the next night’s game). Without Iverson to draw away the media, one would think that Melo and Marcus Camby would be surrounded.
And one would be wrong. Unlike New York (and Philadelphia, for that matter), Denver is light on the sports media. Which meant I was able to catch “exclusives” with both Camby and Melo, and get five minutes with George Karl (who, as I noted in the story, is more willing and eager to talk basketball than anyone I’ve ever met—he even speaks frankly and profanely off the record, which would give the Knicks snitches public relations personnel heart attacks). Safe to say that Karl will never coach a Dolan-owned team.
Camby is also an excellent interview. A fellow member of Iverson’s class of ’96, he’s known AI since the days of UMass vs. Georgetown (as he gleefully points out, Camby’s Minutemen handed Iverson his last college loss in the ’96 Elite Eight). And he’s been Melo’s teammate since he entered the League. A tri-captain (along with Melo and AI), Camby is a dirty work star, scoring off putbacks and tirelessly anchoring the Nuggets alleged defense. Help is what he’s all about. And he has nothing but good words for his higher-profile teammates. I pretty much used all of his quotes in the story, so I’ll let you find them there.
It’s funny, usually I get into trouble because I have too many quotes—I’ll transcribe a full 5,000 word interview to write an 850-word profile—but in this case it was the opposite. I got Melo for five minutes after practice, and Iverson for maybe two minutes after the one game I got to see—a loss to the Pacers. Not much meat. In fact, I pretty much used every quote I got in the story. The only quotes that got left out came from teammates—Anthony Carter and Eduardo Najera, both who provided decent if unspectacular answers. Kind of like their respective games.
I had the same problem with AI as I’ve had with other star players in the past: You have one time to talk to them—postgame—and they have a sub-par game that results in a loss. After a game like that (Iverson had decent numbers but shot something like six of 21), guys don’t want to talk. They just want to go home. Can you blame them? This time, before Iverson even turned to face the media, he put on his coat. Bad sign. Still, he at least answered a few of my questions after the mass session. Better than Gary Payton a few years back when I flew out to Seattle to do a feature and he left me entirely in the lurch (thank God for then-teammate Nate McMillan, who was excellent).
Honestly, the shoot was probably the best part of the whole experience. Iverson and Melo arrived at the same time—easy enough, since we a used the studio inside the Pepsi Center, right down a hallway from the practice facility. A silent TV was tuned to ESPN (reaction to Sean Taylor’s death), Atiba’s iPod provided the tunes. They came in with their shorts sagging low, slides on their feet. AI is an old pro at this sort of thing, having appeared on double-digit SLAM covers. I’ve told people before that even if we only got 10 frames of AI, all 10 would be cover-worthy. Melo isn’t quite AI—he has a tendency to crack up when he’s trying to look mean—but given that we were looking for smiles this time, it worked out for the best.
And again, those smiles were for real. The biggest thing that came out of this trip, for me, is that these guys get along great. As Camby said, there are no egos involved. It’s Carmelo’s team, and everyone accepts that (not that AI hasn’t led the team in scoring a couple of times). Chemistry between the two superstars will not be the issue if the Nuggets come up short in the end. If anything, the problem is more likely to be injuries (power forwards Kenyon Martin and Nene seem to take turns on the injured list every year), the lack of a premier point guard, and the fact that the Nuggets (Camby excepted) don’t seem particularly interested in playing defense.
How far can the Nuggets go? They have to at least make it out of the first round for this season to be viewed as anything resembling a success. And a lot of things will have to go right in order for them to go further—like not facing either San Antonio or Phoenix right away. Home court advantage would also be nice. And they’re headed in the right direction. At 18-11, winners of seven of their last 10, they’re trailed in the Northwest by the upstart Trailblazers (12 straight wins, who knew) and the faltering Jazz (apparently after reaching the Western Conference Finals last season, they’re a marked team), and have to be favorites to win the division. As Najera said back in November, “I’m sure by the second half of the season we’re gonna be playing even better basketball.” You can count on Iverson and Melo leading the way.
80 Responses to “COVER STORY: AI & Melo”
Dec.30 at 7:28 pm
white hot eboy says:
Nice work, Russ. Looking forward to a cover story’s principles worth reading about.
Dec.30 at 7:51 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
You can get this issue off Ebay now for like 8 bucks, if your into that kind of thing.
Dec.30 at 7:53 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
Just saying, thats were i saw it first.
Dec.30 at 7:54 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
cool?
Dec.30 at 7:55 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
bueller?
Dec.30 at 8:56 pm
clapzilla says:
I Would’ve Been Better To Do This A Few Issues Down The Road. The Last Melo Story Was Early. Early Season Stories Are Boring. ‘They’re Not Off To A Blistering Start.’ Wow, What Insight. …I’m Just Saying.
Dec.30 at 8:57 pm
Sari says:
WOOT im so buying this issue!
Dec.30 at 9:00 pm
cory says:
did u get to talk to stacey augmon? he rarely did interviews whilst playing, how about now that hes a development coach?
Dec.30 at 9:10 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I didn’t get to talk to Augmon, but I did see him walking around downtown Denver on game day. No one bothered him.
Dec.30 at 9:11 pm
paul says:
good issue but it would be better if it were the odom,bynum,fisher,p.j. on the middle and of course the best player in the planet,kobe
Dec.30 at 9:13 pm
Captain America says:
tattoo U. Nice cover, look forward to reading this one too.
Dec.30 at 10:02 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I’m not sure if there’s a more-tattooed duo in the L. Marbury and Curry come close, I suppose.
Dec.30 at 10:51 pm
john says:
iverson look like he got a hair cut on the cover with a part, any ways i got the new kobe slam magazine 2 days ago now it’s time for me to get this one ..ya digg.. go lakers!!!
Dec.30 at 11:21 pm
Chris O says:
Two mins with AI? Were you sh*tting bricks over that Russ? Was it one-on-one time with him, or did you have to try and get quotes out of him from the scrum? That’s rough, you’d think the Nuggs PR would hook you up, you know?
Dec.31 at 12:11 am
white hot eboy says:
Moderation fu*king sucks.
Dec.31 at 12:11 am
white hot eboy says:
Moderation fu*king sucks.
Dec.31 at 12:11 am
white hot eboy says:
And then this shi* double posts. Unbelievable.
Dec.31 at 12:12 am
white hot eboy says:
Trying again. Nice work, Russ. Looking forward to a cover story’s principles worth reading about.
Dec.31 at 12:18 am
Ben Osborne says:
Thanks Russ. National on-sale date is 1/1/08…Happy New Year!
Dec.31 at 12:18 am
Russ Bengtson says:
Chris O: It sucked, but like I said, I’ve dealt with worse. GP blew me off entirely (after his Sonics blew a 10-point 4th quarter lead to the Lakers back in ‘97 or ‘98) and Scottie Pippen was a complete jerk, too (when he was with the Rockets).
Dec.31 at 12:43 am
Chris O says:
Was that for the GP-Wu cover? Did you go to another game or just work with what you had? I remember reading about Pip being a jerk, probably in SLAM. Or maybe in Patrick Ewing’s diary. “Dear Diary, why is Socttie such a jerk to me?! At Georgetown, they teach you to respect your opponents. At NAIA schools, I guess you learn to stand over your opponents when you dunk on them. I hope Slam doesn’t make it a slamadamonth.”
Dec.31 at 1:19 am
rob stewart says:
Great stories but this has to be the smallest issue ever! Only 90 pages. I wonder if A.I. will ever cut his hair?
Dec.31 at 1:19 am
rob stewart says:
Great stories but this has to be the smallest issue ever! Only 90 pages. I wonder if A.I. will ever cut his hair?
Dec.31 at 1:33 am
Russ Bengtson says:
GP wasn’t a cover–can’t remember exactly what issue it was in. That was part of his problem, that it WASN’T a cover. Also, I’m pretty sure AI has cut his hair. Look at the photos of him now compared to his official NBA photo.
Dec.31 at 1:41 am
Ben says:
The best thing about this issue. The cover subjects are smiling! Who said SLAM wasn’t creative?
Dec.31 at 1:44 am
Ben says:
The Nuggets just got defeated by GSW. Baron Davis needs serious ink and that stuff you published after the first round of the playoffs last season does not count.
Dec.31 at 1:45 am
Ben says:
Even if they do get JKid they still don’t have a chance at winning the title.
Dec.31 at 2:33 am
nastruthomas says:
anyone notice the marijuana/drug related undertones of this?
…melo
….ai….
…NUGGETS
…high times….
silly.
Dec.31 at 3:11 am
gdon says:
and don’t forget those impossibly wide grins
Dec.31 at 4:45 am
Boing Dynasty says:
and dont forget that mayo/beasley best class ever? part. Clearly someone was high when that question crossed thier mind.
Dec.31 at 4:52 am
Gerwin says:
When will this issue be shipped? I’m still waiting for the Kobe cover. Nice work at the shipping offices. It;s good to live in The Netherlands….
BTW, nice work Russ! How you liked Denver?
Dec.31 at 5:14 am
LordGef says:
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Dec.31 at 9:25 am
TADOne says:
I’m glad Ivy is happy. His last season in Philly was completely draining on him. No smiling at all.
Dec.31 at 9:36 am
marvin says:
Love the cover love AI
Dec.31 at 9:45 am
Gerard Himself says:
Awesome cover!
Russ, I’ve been wondering: where was Noah’s rookie diary in the last issue?
Dec.31 at 10:46 am
BETCATS says:
I am now going somewhere else
Dec.31 at 10:54 am
t.dot dude says:
brandon roy should get a cover
Dec.31 at 10:58 am
WhaHuh says:
we still havent got the Kobe issue in the UK yet. 1 shop had the Punks issue and another shop had jumped back a month with the OJ cover??
Dec.31 at 11:03 am
BETCATS says:
and you guys promised this one to Gil, saying he was 3rd in line. MONSTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dec.31 at 12:18 pm
Ken says:
You forgot the other Camby-AI connection: Iverson’s best dunk ever was that putback when he sat on Camby’s head.
Dec.31 at 12:25 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Haven’t read this post yet, but love seeing Ivy look so happy.
Dec.31 at 12:30 pm
Bubba Chuck says:
hell ya my boi ai!
Dec.31 at 1:48 pm
t.dot dude says:
these two have both been on recent covers,(105, 107) why not put brandon roy on the cover instead
Dec.31 at 1:53 pm
FLUXLAND says:
Russ, that sucked. Both, your post and the fact that didn’t get to speak with anyone at length. Also, Melo and AI have zero chemistry. I’m blaming it all on AI, whom apparently no one told he got traded, as he continues to play as if in Philly. All those years of “he doesn’t have the right players around him” has proven to be crap. You would have thought with the superstars around him, the Nuggets would be the Celtics of the West. You would have thought wrong. TRADE A.I.!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dec.31 at 2:12 pm
Myles Brown says:
I just think it’s great that they’re laughing over a “High Times” cover line. Why not just go all the way with it and say “Melo & AI are smokin the competition”? Or just put Wooderson on the cover with them? “You got any weed man? Well it’d be a lot cooler if you did….”
Dec.31 at 2:41 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
@t.dot: Because by the time we shot and got a B.Roy issue out, the Blazers will be in the midst of a 10 game losing streak.
Dec.31 at 2:42 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
@Myles: Wait until you see the spine line.
Dec.31 at 2:59 pm
mitch36 says:
i seen the XX3 they are not that bad… might get em
Dec.31 at 4:12 pm
Candice says:
FLUXLand they do have chemistry. I think thier chemistry is fine. December has been their greatest month since playing together.
Dec.31 at 4:12 pm
Joey says:
best cover yet. my team. my 2 favorite players
Dec.31 at 4:54 pm
Vinsanity says:
hope the article is better than last ish’s on kobe
Dec.31 at 5:01 pm
Ben_ says:
SLAM, I love you, but … another Iverson cover? I’m inclined not to cop this issue. I truly wish the mag would return to the boldness of its early days. Having Ivey smiling isn’t much of a statement. Much love, SLAM eds. Things have improved greatly over the past year or so, but … really? Another Iverson cover?
Dec.31 at 5:43 pm
TADOne says:
Lang, Brandon still deserves a cover regardless….
Dec.31 at 6:19 pm
Spurs DYNASTY!! says:
this is what there 3rd cover in 10 is. thats alot of covers give it to some guys like joe johnson or tim duncan or boozer and d-will or dwight or t-mac or anybody that hasnt been on for a long time or has never been on
Dec.31 at 6:53 pm
FLUXLAND says:
@Candice: I’ve seen a few Denver games this year and it looked like Melo is allergic to playing with AI and AI seems more concerned with his career ppg then teammates on the floor. Seriously, he needs to be @ 10 apg…at least. Also, Denver needs to stop shooting 3s.
Dec.31 at 8:30 pm
rob stewart says:
My mind must not be workin properly. I don’t get the spine line. What does “kind nugg” mean?
Dec.31 at 10:20 pm
Myles Brown says:
I know! Happy New Year everybody.
Dec.31 at 11:26 pm
Tyler says:
man you guys need to give baron davis a cover
Jan.1 at 12:43 am
Timmyd says:
I’m sort of tired of the whole “who’s team it is” thing. Who cares. Nobody is bothering the guys on the Boston Celtics with that crap, so why continue to bother these two about it? Also, Iverson is one of the biggest Alpha Doggs in all of sports, it’s only natural that he is going to take over and lead a team, the guy doesn’t know anything else. I can’t wait to read this issue though.
Jan.1 at 1:07 am
Timmyd says:
Fluxland, get a life! I’m so tired of seeing some of you so-called “Nuggets fans” online hating on Iverson every other minute. It wasn’t untill December that Iverson started scoring more and thats largely due to him starting off the season playing the PG position because all of their PG’s were injured. Now he is back to his SG position and is doing what is asked of him…shooting the ball! His shot selection is better then it has been before, he shoots the ball the majority of the time LESS then Melo, and thats by choice because him and Melo both have the greenlight. He went through the month of December shooting close to 60% from the field not to mention that he averages the most assists on the entire team (although he is not the PG)…so how is that considered a ball-hogg? Some of you are just mad because he is averaging more points then Carmelo on the team right now. Iverson has to score a certain amount of points each night the same way Carmlo has to in order to give that team a chance to win eachnight. Some of you act like you can’t handle two stars on this team. You want A.I to average 10 apg?! When he is not even the PG on the team?! When Iverson first got to Denver, up untill the last few months, he had sacrificed a lot of his game to try to make this work. You folks want him to sacrifice…but not Carmelo. It’s one thing to make a few sacrifices, but its another to expect a great player to sacrifice his entire game. They made a trade for him because of who he is, not because of who YOU want him to be. I don’t care who you would have put on this team with Melo, wether it was Iverson…Kobe…T-Mac…D-Wade, it doesn’t matter, they are going to shine regardless because of thier presense alone. Please, for the love of god…get over it and get used to it. Truth be told Denver is actually lucky to even have a star of Iversons caliber play in that town, because a name like Iverson belongs in a real b-ball town with REAL media coverage. When I watch the games in Denver the crowd seems so dead…you would think that this team didn’t have two of the top five scorers in the league along with the reining defensive player of the year not to mention all the other talent on this team. How unfortounate. You say “Trade A.I”…I say “A.I if this doesn’t work out this year, opt-out and go back to a REAL b-ball town where the fans appreciate players like you…and don’t sit around looking like ZOMBIES and complaining every five minutes”.
Jan.1 at 1:10 am
rhys-unit says:
haha the porland trailBLAZERS smoked a.i and melo, and had a high time
Jan.1 at 2:49 am
Ben Osborne says:
Where’s Cub?
Jan.1 at 2:50 am
Ben Osborne says:
Also, Gerard Himself, Noah backed out of doing it in the Kobe issue, but he’s back on board in this issue and should be in every issue through the rest of the season.
Jan.1 at 11:09 am
t.dot dude says:
tj ford, and alonzo mourning should both get articles
Jan.1 at 2:56 pm
Kareem says:
i hope i=iverson and melo go with a fro that would be awesome!
Jan.1 at 3:09 pm
Gerard Himself says:
thanks Ben.
Jan.1 at 3:24 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
high times, kind nuggs. how was sheed and damon not somehow involved in this issue? also, why the fu(k is it only 88 pages?
Jan.1 at 4:54 pm
Vinsanity says:
iverson covers are getting old and so predictable. how much more is there to say about the guy? things are good in denver. the end. id be hapy if i had melo on my team too.
Jan.1 at 8:29 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Tarzan, I really don’t like Stoudamire, but Sheed would’ve been a good look. Issues that close at the end of calendar years are traditionally skinny (not just for us) because companies have spent their advertising budgets for the year and are tapped out. Since we were low on ads this issue, we were low on edit pages, too (the sad but true way page counts are determined). I don’t work the business side of SLAM, but as far as I know next issue will be back in the 100s as far as page count.
Jan.1 at 9:34 pm
Bubba Chuck says:
I agree w/timmyd xcept 4 tha part about denver not being a bball town & tha fans being dead
Jan.1 at 9:34 pm
Candice says:
Fluxland, I’ve seen a few Nugget games too and they do have chemistry. Is Ai suppose to stop scoring all togeher? He shoot’s less with a higher percentage now. I just don’t get it. Also what’s wrong with their 3 point shooting? It’s not the best but it’s not the worst either. Their best 3 point shooter just got back to playing.
Jan.1 at 9:40 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
If the Nuggets could somehow get Jason Kidd without giving up Iverson, Melo or Camby, they’d be in much better shape. Um, obviously.
Jan.1 at 10:22 pm
white hot eboy says:
Someone needs to update the SLAMOnline ad in the mag and promote Holly’s Post Up. Ben…..
Jan.1 at 10:59 pm
ohyes says:
this is the first cover page with players smiing
Jan.2 at 1:45 am
whitechocolate says:
russ, how bout kmart, najera, and chucky atkins for kidd and a draft pick
Jan.2 at 5:21 am
Timmyd says:
Bubba Chuck, thanks for the co-sign…but it is known that Denver is a Football town first, then Hockey, then Baseball, then BASKETBALL… I think when they got Carmelo it brought a little more attention to the city and when they got Iverson, the world started paying attention. The reason why I said their crowd looks dead is because sometimes they come across like that on t.v. You would think with this much talent on a team that the crowd would be crazy. Golden States crowd is bananas!! But I seen someone say once that they went to a Nuggets game and Rocky (the mascot) was doing dunks and the crowd was so silent that Rocky just walked off the court. LOL! But I do remember the night Iverson scored 51 pts, that crowd was on FIRE!! I think, like some crowds, they just want something to cheer for and want to see effort. I hope the Nuggets do well in the playoffs and give their fans what they want.
Jan.2 at 8:15 am
kb24 says:
yo! this guys is wack!
Jan.2 at 12:14 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Good point, Eboy. We’re on it…
Jan.5 at 11:57 pm
Liz says:
Brandon Roy definitely deserves to be on the cover..Why not put the starting five of the Blazers on the cover..That’s rude to say that by the time an issue comes out with BRoy on the cover that they’re going to be on a 10 game losing streak. What the heck is wrong with the haters? Obviously they’re a hot team and I think they’re going to be keep winning games because they’re playing like a team. Maybe if you watched a game or two you’d realize how great they’re playing instead of making judgements.
Jan.13 at 9:44 pm
Bubba Chuck says:
Timmy: thats cuz u neva been 2 a real live game