Kleiza gets some holiday cheer

Nuggets rookie enjoys family's visit while his mother battles illness

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 23, 2005 at midnight

Text size  

• 0 Comments
• Email
• Print

For three weeks, Kristina Kleiza kept a secret.

Her son Linas was involved in workouts in June leading up to the NBA draft. Kristina, a former college basketball player in the family's native Lithuania, did not want to disrupt him.

June 28 ended up being a banner day for the family. Kleiza, projected by many to be drafted in the second round, instead went in the first to the Portland Trail Blazers with the No. 27 pick, then was traded to the Denver Nuggets.

The next day, Kleiza got the news. His mother had been diagnosed in early June with breast cancer and would have a lumpectomy later that week.

"It was tough for me," Kleiza said. "She told me and my brother (Zilvinas). It was just tough."

The good news is the cancer was caught early. Kristina Kleiza has been undergoing chemotherapy since September and will continue for another month.

Because of her health, Kleiza's mother had been unable to visit her son in Denver. Until now.

Kleiza's mother and father, Gidas, arrived Thursday from their home in White Plains, N.Y. They will spend Christmas with Linas, 20, and Zilvinas, 23, who has been in Denver the past week.

"I am very excited to see Linas at his apartment," said Kristina Kleiza, who, along with her husband, saw her son play in person in the NBA for the first time Dec. 16 in New Jersey and will see him tonight at the Pepsi Center when the Nuggets play the Houston Rockets. "(The illness) has been tough, but I am doing fine now."

Kristina Kleiza, 46, made the decision to hold off telling Linas because she didn't want to distract her son.

"I didn't want to disturb him," she said. "At that time, he was going through the workouts."

Kristina Kleiza knows a bit about basketball. She and Gidas played in college in Lithuania.

Kleiza's parents, who prepare decorative art such as murals, moved to New York 10 years ago to seek better opportunities.

Kleiza remained in Lithuania another six years before enrolling at Montrose Christian High School in Rockville, Md., in 2001, then going to the University of Missouri in 2003 and playing two seasons.

Kleiza wasn't expected to play much this season, but numerous injuries to Nuggets players have opened the way, and his parents are proud of his play.

The 6-foot-8 forward, averaging 3.1 points and 9.8 minutes in 18 games, says his mother's illness has sometimes made it difficult to focus on basketball.

"It's been hard," Kleiza said. "My mom, I love her to death. It's painful. But she's tough."

Kleiza got in for 29 seconds against the Nets but was excited to play his first NBA game in front of his parents. He's looking forward to the game tonight and to spending quality time this weekend with his family.

Two years ago, when Kleiza was a freshman, his parents went to Missouri for Christmas. His mother brought all sorts of Lithuanian food, although that won't be the case this time.

"I haven't been able to prepare anything (because of the illness)," she said. "I'll just have to see what kind of food Linas has."

Kristina Kleiza said chemotherapy has been tough at times, but she is striving to keep a good attitude. She wears a wig, saying her husband cut her hair before it had a chance to fall out.

"She's going through the second part of chemotherapy," Gidas Kleiza said. "It has been difficult, but she (is doing much better). During the summer, it took its toll, but it definitely is much easier now."

The Kleizas, who are Catholic, will have a traditional Lithuanian Christmas. No meat will be served Christmas Eve.

Kleiza says Christmas is "special to me." He remembers one that stood out.

"My most special gift was my first basketball," he said. "I was maybe 7 or 8. I got a big one. A good one. . . . I just played inside our house. There used to be a ceiling. I used to pretend the basket was there. . . . It used to have a dark spot and everything. It was dirty (from where the ball kept hitting it)."

Soon, Kleiza should have another good Christmas memory.

Rockets at Nuggets

• When: 7 tonight.

• Where: Pepsi Center (19,009 capacity).

• TV/radio: Altitude; KKFN-AM (950).

• Starting lineups

Houston (10-14) Pos. Ht. Pts.

1 Tracy McGrady G 6-8 23.6

7 David Wesley G 6-1 9.0

4 Stromile Swift C 6-9 8.3

40 Ryan Bowen F 6-9 2.5

5 Juwan Howard F 6-9 7.9

Coach: Jeff Van Gundy

Denver (12-14) Pos. Ht. Pts.

23 Marcus Camby C 6-11 17.1

3 DerMarr Johnson G 6-9 5.5

24 Andre Miller G 6-2 13.9

15 Carmelo Anthony F 6-8 23.6

6 Kenyon Martin F 6-9 12.3

Coach: George Karl

• Injuries: Rockets - G Bob Sura (knee) and C Yao (toe) are out; G Rafer Alston (fibula), G Derek Anderson (calf), G Jon Barry (calf) and C Dikembe Mutombo (finger) are questionable. Nuggets - G Earl Boykins (hamstring), F Nene (knee) and G Bryon Russell (knee) are out; G Greg Buckner (groin) and Martin (knee) are questionable.

• Notes: The Rockets, who had nine healthy players for Wednesday's 94-81 loss against Toronto, have more injuries than the Nuggets. Yao is out for several weeks after undergoing toe surgery Monday . . . The Rockets have won six of their past eight games, while the Nuggets have lost four in a row . . . Karl said he will use double teams on McGrady, and Anthony will get some minutes on him . . . The Nuggets say Martin, who has battled a sore left knee, is a game- time decision, although Karl is optimistic he'll play.

Featured

• Denver turns 150

  

  Read about the city's history, look at old photos and see a list of influential Denverites.

• Mount Crushmore

  

  Which four Broncos greats should be immortalized on Mount Crushmore? Vote here.

• Winter Escapes

  

  Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.

• Rocky Multimedia

  

  The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.

• Weekend plans?

  

  Figure out things to do this weekend with the help of our entertainment calendar.

• Bronco Dean's rant

  

  Listen to Bronco Dean's pregame rant on the Raiders.

• Season To Share

  

  The Post-News Season To Share campaign provides grants to area nonprofits.

• The Rocky @ 150 Years

  

  The Rocky was there when Colorado became a state in 1876. Read our coverage.

• A Dozen on Denver

  

  And the winner is... Robert Ziegler! See the whole fiction series by clicking here.