DENVER -- Denver Nuggets rookie guard Julius Hodge was shot and wounded early Saturday while driving on a highway after visiting a nightclub but is expected to make a full recovery, officials said.
Sheriff's deputies said the 22-year-old player was struck in his lower body. The team said he was in fair condition.
Adams County Sheriff Doug Darr said Hodge visited the Paladium club, where hip-hop artist Juelz Santana performed Friday night, but the motive for the shooting wasn't known and no suspects were in custody.
"We don't have any information or indication now that there was an altercation earlier," Darr said. He said it was too soon to say whether the shooting was random.
Nuggets coach George Karl said he believes Hodge was hit three times in his legs.
"The preliminary reports are that he's going to be fine. He should be able to play again in two to three weeks," Karl said.
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| Julius Hodge and the Nuggets had an off night Friday in the middle of a two-game home stand. (Getty Images) |
"He's obviously a little shaken up, but he's doing fine," Vandeweghe said.
Hodge was on Interstate 76 in north Denver at about 2 a.m. when another vehicle pulled alongside and someone inside fired several shots, Adams County Sheriff's Sgt. Louis Dixon said. A passenger in Hodge's vehicle flagged down another motorist, who took Hodge and the passenger to the hospital.
Darr said Hodge's passenger was "mildly injured." Darr would not identify the hospital.
Witnesses told investigators two people may have been in the shooter's car.
Dixon said investigators don't know the name of the motorist who stopped and are hoping that motorist and any other witnesses come forward.
Dixon said Hodge's passenger has been interviewed and is not a suspect. He declined to release the passenger's name and would not say what kind of vehicle Hodge was driving, but Paladium manager Jose Ramirez said he thought it was a black or navy BMW 7-series.
Phoosmandue 
