With Kenyon Martin out recovering from a knee injury, Johan Petro is going to see significant playing time.

His teammates think he's ready for it -- especially Denver Nuggets star Chauncey Billups. Speaking to the Associated Press on Tuesday, Billups said that Johan has a lot to offer.

The little-used Johan Petro -- along with Joey Graham and Malik Allen -- will step in while Martin’s out. Petro played nearly 23 minutes in a win over Portland on Sunday, grabbing a season-high 10 rebounds and contributing six points.

“We’re not going to expect him to be Kenyon Martin,” Billups said. “But I think a lot of people are going to get a chance to see that he’s a really good basketball player. He just hasn’t gotten an opportunity.”

Carmelo Anthony shared similar thoughts. As reported by the Sporting News:

After Joey Graham started for Martin and had eight points and three rebounds in a victory over Indiana on Friday, coach George Karl gave Johan Petro his first start of the season Sunday. The fifth-year center responded with six points and a season-high 10 boards.

"I was talking about it the last couple days, with Kenyon being out, guys got to step up," Anthony told the Nuggets' official Web site. "Johan was the guy tonight."

NEXT UP
No. 27 and the Nuggets take on the Timberwolves tonight in Minnesota.

RELATED STORIES
Nuggets-Timberwolves Preview (Sporting News, Mar. 10, 2010)
http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/article/2010-03-09/nuggets-timberwolves-...
Nuggets keep focus on winning (AP, Mar. 10, 2010)
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-nuggets-martin&prov=ap&type=lgns

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