The Sidelines : Medicine Idles Nuggets Rookie

Denver Nuggets rookie Chris Jackson will miss the first five games of the season because of side effects from medication he is taking, General Manager Bernie Bickerstaff said.

Jackson was hospitalized Sunday after team doctors became concerned over his sluggish behavior on the court.

Team physician Dr. Allan Schreiber said Jackson’s play was slowed by one of two prescription drugs Jackson is taking for Tourette’s Syndrome.

Tourette’s is an illness that causes involuntary movements and speech in varying degrees. Jackson has described his case as mild, and doctors said they did not believe it would hinder Jackson when the Nuggets made him the third player picked in the June NBA draft.

Schreiber said side effects of the medication and not the illness were to blame.