Nugget Players Deny Bid to Oust Issel

Denver Nugget players said Tuesday they skipped practice the previous day because of fatigue from a long road trip, not because of anger over the coaching of Dan Issel.

The 15 players agreed among themselves not to show up for the 11 a.m. practice after returning home from Boston about 3 a.m., but Issel and his assistant coaches weren’t notified of their plans.

Both sides called it a matter of miscommunication and said any festering issues were resolved in a team meeting Tuesday.

“It was not a boycott,” said George McCloud, one of the Nugget captains. “It was not anything where the team was trying to get Dan fired or rebelling against Dan.”

But forward James Posey’s comments in a newspaper story that the players might boycott Tuesday night’s game against the visiting Miami Heat, which they lost, 96-85, led to speculation that Issel might have lost control.

Posey denied making any such statement, although it was taped in an on-the-record interview with the Denver Post.

“I talked about missing practice, but I didn’t say anything about missing the game or boycotting, none of that,” Posey said Tuesday following Denver’s morning shoot-around, which was fully attended.

“It was a team decision,” Posey said about skipping practice. “We were tired, we got in late and we just felt we needed the day off.”

Asked if Issel, who also is the Nuggets’ president, has lost control of the team, Posey said, “No, he hasn’t lost control. We have much respect for Dan.”

The Post article indicated the players were protesting Issel’s apparent tirade against center Raef LaFrentz after an 0-for-7, five-foul performance in an overtime loss to Boston on Sunday night.

McCloud said the players’ decision to miss practice was “more or less that we were tired. . . . At the same time, we discussed with Dan some of our issues.”

Against Miami, Nugget forward Antonio McDyess’ 22 points and 12 rebounds weren’t enough as the Heat built a double-figure lead en route to the victory. Eddie Jones led Miami with 28 points.

The Nuggets are 10-13 after an 0-4 trip and new owner Stan Kroenke has said Issel must prove himself this season.