Nuggets' guard Chucky Atkins has tapped into his inner Kenyon Martin, which is to say he has learned that patience is the best way to return from an injury at full health.
Atkins originally was to return from a strained groin this week. Now, he said the target date is Dec. 26, a Denver home game against Milwaukee.
"It's not really my groin right now, my groin is fine," Atkins said after some pregame shooting drills Wednesday night. "It's trying to get my hip flexor to fire back because I haven't used it in so long. Once I get that back in order, I'm good. Hopefully, by the day after Christmas I'll be good."