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Back on the Pepsi Center practice court on Thursday morning was a familiar face – that of former Nuggets assistant coach Tim Grgurich. And if he hadn’t been gone for so long, it really was as if he never left. He bounced around from player-to-player, chatting, rebounding for free throws, talking to coaches and sometimes just standing off to the side and observing. Nuggets coach George Karl has long tried to get Grgurich back into the organization after he left in 2010. And while this is very temporary – a few games – Karl couldn’t be happier to have the calming influence and basketball smarts of one of his best friends in the business. “He gives me eyes, the pulse of the team,” Karl said. “Someone to give me another opinion on where he thinks we need to go and what steps (to take). There’s still two or three small steps of progression this team needs to make and your time in practices gets shorter. So having him prioritize here in the next week or two is important.” Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Tim Grgurich 

Bucks rookies John Henson and Doron Lamb are back in Las Vegas this week to participate in veteran NBA assistant Tim Grgurich's skills camp. The camp opened Monday and will conclude Thursday. Henson and Lamb played well for the Bucks summer league team which compiled a 4-1 record in Las Vegas last month. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Tim Grgurich, John Henson, Doron Lamb 

Rick Bonnell: New #Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap just told me it's unlikely Tim Grgurich joins the staff. Too bad. Would have been a coup. Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Tim Grgurich, Mike Dunlap 

Jason Quick: Longtime NBA assistant Tim Grgrich at Trail Blazers practice working with guards Jamal Crawford and Raymond Felton Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Raymond Felton, Jamal Crawford, Tim Grgurich 

Despite Brown's relationship with Grgurich and the fact that the veteran coach already owns a house in Manhattan Beach, it won't be easy for the Lakers to land Grgurich, as Carlisle has lauded Grgurich's contributions to the Mavs' championship run on numerous occasions since Dallas' Game 6 victory in Miami. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Tim Grgurich 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Mike Brown expected to make bid for well-regarded Dallas assistant Tim Grgurich to join Lakers staff, sources say. They're close friends. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Tim Grgurich, Ettore Messina 

The Mavericks have an informal relationship with longtime NBA assistant coach Tim Grgurich. He’s friends with just about everybody on the staff. He spent a lot of time with the Mavericks through the preseason but took leave of them for the last couple months. He was back on the bench Tuesday night. Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Tim Grgurich 

One of the clinchers that convinced highly sought assistant Tim Grgurich to join Dallas' staff was an allowance from team management for Grgurich to pick and choose the games and practices he attends. The Mavs have also encouraged the popular skills coach known simply as "Gurg" -- long regarded as one of the league's best one-to-one teachers -- to mix in some scouting assignments and even work occasionally with players from Dallas' D-League affiliate in nearby Frisco as opposed to obliging him to sit behind the Mavs' bench for every game. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Tim Grgurich 

Tim Grgurich, one of the game's foremost skills gurus and a recent addition to the Mavs’ staff, will be made available to work with Legends players on occasion when his schedule permits. Grgurich doesn’t have a formal title with the Mavs beyond "consultant," but it was an undeniable coup for Dallas to secure Grgurich’s services after his unexpected departure from George Karl’s bench Denver in the summer. "Gurg doesn’t need a title," Nelson said. "Everybody knows what he does and they know he’s incredible. There’s a line at practice of guys who want to get on the court with him." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Tim Grgurich 

There was a pall over the Nuggets in September, and it had nothing to do with Melo's trade wishes. Two of the team's beloved assistants were gone. Jamahl Mosley, a former University of Colorado standout, left to join Byron Scott's new staff in Cleveland. Tim Grgurich, disappointed the Nuggets didn't re-sign executive Mark Warkentien, his longtime friend, left his other longtime friend, Denver coach George Karl. Ask most players which coach they bonded with the most, and they likely will say Mosley or "Grg." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Tim Grgurich 

Camby brought up the departure of assistant coach Tim Grgurich, who was very close with Anthony, after five seasons in Denver. "Maybe (Anthony) wants to see what else is going on around the team,''Camby said. "A lot of other stuff is going on. K-Mart and all the other stuff that's been going around. I know that Grg not being (in Denver) this year is tough. Everybody loves Grg.'' FanHouse.com

Denver Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony, Tim Grgurich, Marcus Camby 

Grgurich is currently helping out in training camp in Dallas. He says it's just for a few weeks, although Mavericks officials are trying to convince him to stay long-term. "I would love to see (Anthony return to Denver),'' Camby said. "Me playing (with the Nuggets) for six years, I know how much he means to the city. But he obviously has to do what's best for himself.'' FanHouse.com

Denver Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony, Tim Grgurich, Marcus Camby 

Jason Terry is learning what Shawn Marion and many other NBA players have known about the understated Tim Grgurich. So excited about his week working with “Gurg” after practices at Dallas Mavericks training camp, Terry wanted to share it with the world, via Twitter, of course. “Xtra shootn with gurgs great workout we gotta have him on staff his mojo is real.” Translation: Terry is sold on “Gurg.” The Mavs might be, too. Sources have told espndallas.com that they hope to bring Grgurich on as an assistant under coach Rick Carlisle. The confidant of George Karl in Seattle and Denver, Grgurich recently walked away from the Nuggets, torn over the direction and recent turbulence within the franchise. His decision was a sensitive one. Twelve of his 18 years in the NBA have been with Karl, who is returning to the bench after a difficult bout with throat cancer. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Tim Grgurich, Jason Terry 

To replace the departed Tim Grgurich, the Nuggets have hired Melvin Hunt as an assistant. George Karl said it "really hurts'' that Grgurich is gone. But he feels fortunate to have landed Hunt, an assistant the past five seasons under Mike Brown in Cleveland before Brown was fired last May. "That's a very good hire this late in the season,'' said George Karl FanHouse.com

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Tim Grgurich 

Anthony has refused to sign a three-year, $65 million extension with the Nuggets and has made it clear to team officials he’s not comfortable with the franchise’s stability. There’s unrest within the organization, where George Karl’s top assistant, Tim Grgurich, has left, league sources said. Grgurich has told friends he’s angry about the franchise’s refusal to retain former GM Mark Warkentien. Karl is now without his two most trusted confidants in the organization, Warkentien and Grgurich. Yahoo! Sports

Denver Nuggets, Mark Warkentien, Coaching, Tim Grgurich 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Tim Grgurich is telling friends the ouster of longtime pal and ex-GM Mark Warkentien a major reason why he's leaving Denver coaching staff. Twitter

Denver Nuggets, Mark Warkentien, Tim Grgurich 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Well-regarded and trusted George Karl assistant, Tim Grgurich, leaving Denver, sources tell Y! Melvin Hunt, a fmr Cavs aide, may replace him Twitter

Denver Nuggets, Coaching, Tim Grgurich, Melvin Hunt 

Tim Grgurich, a longtime Nuggets assistant and a George Karl confidant, is "unlikely" to return to the team this season, a league source said. Grgurich is close to Mark Warkentien, the former Denver executive who did not have his contract renewed. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Tim Grgurich 

Benjamin Nochman: respected Den asst coach tim grgurich "unlikely" to return this yr, source said. grg could still be with team in some capacity Twitter

Denver Nuggets, Coaching, Tim Grgurich 

There are after-parties in Las Vegas. There are velvet ropes and VIP rooms galore. And then there are the places that are really hard to know about and nearly impossible to gain admittance to. Like Tim Grgurich's summer basketball camp. It might be the only gym in America that has an impenetrable door with a little slot at eye level, through which eager customers must offer up the right password before that door will swing open. OK, not exactly. But it is a relative secret in a league with few. For most fans and even many alleged veteran observers, Grgurich's camp -- being held this week on the courts of a Vegas high school -- is so below the radar that it requires sonar. Part Xs & Os, part "Skull & Bones." NBA.com

Coaching, Las Vegas, Tim Grgurich