Denver Nuggets center Marcus Camby was sitting quietly in the visiting lockeroom at the Continental Airlines Arena while his teammates were out shooting and preparing for a Nov. 18 game at New Jersey. There he sat, in a suit, just a short drive away from where he used to block shot after shot, snatch rebounds and dunk off the break for the New York Knicks.

	Marcus Camby Forward-Center Denver Nuggets Profile
	CAREER STATISTICS Yrs PPG RPG BPG FG% FT% 6 11.5 8.1 2.3 .473 .648

While writing instructions on the chalkboard, the symbolism of where Camby was -- and thoughts of what he could be -- was tough for first-year Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik to take.

"When I look at him, I cry. I put my head in a towel and weep," Bzdelik said.

Considering the effect Camby can have on the game, Bzdelik's emotions are understandable.

The 6-foot-11, 235-pounder is one of the NBA's best shot-blockers and rebounders. He's a rare versatile defender who can at times soundly match up with players at both forward positions, as well as at center. And his career scoring average of 11.1 points per game average would have been higher if he didn't have to defer the ball much of his New York career to stellar scorers Latrell Sprewell, Allan Houston and Patrick Ewing.

Talent has never been a problem for Camby. Staying healthy has been.

During the previous six years of his NBA career, Camby has never played more than 63 games. Last season, he played in career-low 29 due to hip and foot injuries. Despite the injury concerns, the Nuggets acquired Camby, the draft rights to forward Nene Hilario and guard Mark Jackson (now with Utah) on June 26 in a trade with New York for forward Antonio McDyess and the draft rights to guard Frank Williams.

With Camby and 20-year-old Hilario, the Nuggets felt they would be more than able to compensate for the loss of McDyess, who had trouble staying healthy himself. Even so, concerns about Camby's injury woes caused Denver to sign center Mark Blount as insurance during the offseason.

At the beginning of training camp, Bzdelik was excited about the prospect of having Camby and Juwan Howard together in the post. But before the Nuggets' first preseason game, Camby was placed back on the shelf when he had surgery on Oct. 10 to repair a tear in the cartilage that lines the hip joint.

The prognosis is that Camby won't be back until at least January. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated by hip specialist Dr. Marc J. Philippon, who performed the surgery, in Pittsburgh next weekend. But the light at the end of the tunnel recently began arriving as Camby gingerly has been taking part in the Mikan drill and doing other shooting exercises at practices.

	“	Our defense would be better. Our rebounding would be better. Our defense, because Marcus is perhaps the best defensive player in the league, would be better. Our rebounding would be better because Marcus is a terrific rebounder. Our offense would be better with a shot-blocker who would create more running game opportunities for us. ”
		— Jeff Bzdelik, Nuggets coach on Camby's return

"I just want to play and I know it's going to be soon," Camby said. "I am just on a pace where I don't want any relapses or to hurt it again. I want to make sure I come back right and come back to play.

"I am getting to shoot (now). It's a little stationary. I still can't jump on it, but I should get a fair assessment (within) a week."

So how big a difference could Camby be for a Nuggets team that finished November 5-11 without him? With the strengths and weaknesses that this team has, a major one.

The Nuggets are last in the NBA in scoring and field-goal percentage. Camby is a near 50-percent career shooter, probably could average 15 points on this team, and his presence in the post would make it easier on Howard. Denver ranks first in the NBA in total rebound percentage and is second in the NBA in points allowed per game. Camby definitely has the skills to make a strong defense even stronger. Moreover, Bzdelik believes he could be the NBA's best defensive player in their scheme.

"Our defense would be better," Bzdelik said. "Our rebounding would be better. Our defense, because Marcus is perhaps the best defensive player in the league, would be better. Our rebounding would be better because Marcus is a terrific rebounder. Our offense would be better with a shot-blocker who would create more running game opportunities for us."

It's still uncertain when Camby will be back on the court. But one thing is for sure: If he has to limp to suit up for his return against the Knicks in Madison Square Garden on Jan. 22, he will.

"I follow what's going on (with the Knicks)," Camby said. "They're not winning. Our record is better than theirs. They say things happen for a reason."

But with his love for close friend Sprewell, his former teammates and the Knicks fan, he professes that his return to The Big Apple won't be a vendetta-type one. And being that he is still having a "tough" time adjusting to life off the court in Denver, Camby will be happy to get back to Manhattan even if it's just for a couple days.

"Everyone was like they miss me, The Garden is not the same and they miss the excitement that I brought," said Camby, when asked about the reception he has received during his time back in New York. "(The Knick fans) had been positive all summer.

"I think about (Jan. 22) a lot. Not just going back to seeing the Knicks, but going against my former teammates who I went to war with for four or five years. That will just be good going on the court playing against them."

A rap star usually wouldn't wear the jersey of a player in a video unless he's got game. During rapper Mr. Cheek's 2001 video for the popular song, "Lights, Camera, Action," he's shown at a club sporting a blue Knicks' Camby jersey. But that was 2001 and 2003 is quickly approaching.

The mention of his jersey being worn in that video brings a smile to Camby's face. And in the near future, a good sign that Camby is back and healthy will be some rapper spitting lyrics in a video while wearing a No. 23 Nuggets jersey.

"By the time I get back it will be close to a year from when I (last) played," said Camby, whose last game was Feb. 1 at Indiana when he first injured his hip in a bad fall. "I think a lot of people forgot what I can do."

Marc J. Spears, who covers the Denver Nuggets for the Denver Post, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.