Nuggets re-sign G Smith

Aug 22, 2008 - 3:54 PM DENVER (Ticker) -- The Denver Nuggets on Friday re-signed athletic guard J.R. Smith to a multi-year contract.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Smith, 22, has averaged 12.6 points in 137 regular-season games for the Nuggets over the past two seasons while primarily coming off the bench.

Last season, Smith averaged 12.3 points in 19.2 minutes per game and continued his strong play in the postseason, averaging 18.3 points in 27.0 minutes in four games against the Los Angeles Lakers.

"We're extremely delighted to have J.R. back," said Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien. "His blend of off-the-charts-athleticism and long-range shooting ability is rare, especially for someone his age. We believe his best basketball is still to come."

The 6-6, 220-pound guard was acquired from Chicago on July 20, 2006, for Howard Eisley and two second-round draft picks. He was originally selected by the New Orleans Hornets in the first round of the 2004 draft.