LEXINGTON, Ky. - Nick Van Exel is starting his eighth NBA season, and this much has not changed about the former University of Cincinnati star: He hates losing.

        “It definitely bothers me,” the Denver point guard said just hours before the Nuggets' 95-83 exhibi tion loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday night in Rupp Arena. “There are nights when you can't sleep. This is very serious.”

        This is Van Exel's third season with the Nuggets after five years with the Los Angeles Lakers, who drafted him in 1993.

        The Lakers averaged 52 victories over their last four seasons with Van Exel and improved each year. He was an All-Star in 1998. His first season in Denver, the team went 14-36.

        “It was real difficult,” said Van Exel, who scored 12 points Tues day. “... Coming from winning 50, 60 games to trying to get 20 wins, that's a big difference. I was real frustrated. ... With my attitude and my feistiness, I'm not going to sit around and act like I'm happy and always have a smile on my face.

        “If they wanted a guy to come in there and be happy for losing every night, I was definitely the wrong person for that job.”

        Last year, Denver was 35-47. Van Exel, 28, averaged 16.1 points, was second in the NBA in assists (9.0 a game) and eighth in 3-pointers (133).

        “My last couple years in L.A., it wasn't fun,” Van Exel said. “I didn't think I was wanted; that was one reason. Now it's fun again. The Nuggets are on a path of being a contender, at least for the playoffs.”

        Van Exel said he talked to UC coach Bob Huggins “once or twice” this past summer but did not call him when Huggins emerged as a candidate for the Los Angles Clippers job.

        “ ... I'm sure he's wise enough not to take a job like that,” Van Exel said.

        There have been rumors that Huggins eventually may be a candidate to coach the Nuggets. A few years back, Van Exel told his college coach he wasn't ready for the NBA.

        “I would always tell Coach, you've got to calm down if you want to coach in this league,” Van Exel said. “He's like, "I'm calm, I'm calm.' Then I turn on the TV, ESPN, and what do I see? Huggins throwing his jacket on the sideline, going up and down cussing the players out, cussing the referees out. Same old Huggs.”

        Van Exel is smiling. Then he turns serious.

        "But as far as getting guys up and getting guys ready to play, he's definitely ready for that,” Van Exel said. “He's a great motivator. He's a great coach. He definitely understands the X's and 0's. He gets the best out of players.”

Van Exel better player, no better at losing

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