ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, July 23, 1996                 TAG: 9607230049
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B-4  EDITION: METRO 

IN SPORTS

From Associated Press reports Bryant Stith re-signed with the Denver Nuggets on Monday, spurning more lucrative offers from Miami and Atlanta.

Although no details of the contract were released, the former Virginia guard is believed to have signed a deal worth $22 million over five years.

Stith said he is optimistic about the Nuggets, even after center Dikembe Mutombo left as a free agent and scoring leader Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and point guard Jalen Rose were traded.

``I believe with the collection of bodies we have now it's only looking up in the future,'' Stith said. ``We can compete with the top teams in this league. I'm very optimistic.''

Stith had career-best averages in scoring (13.6), rebounding (4.9) and assists (2.9) this past season, and was the only Denver player to appear in all 82 games. He has missed only one game over the last three seasons.

LENGTH: Short :   31 lines
KEYWORDS: BASKETBALL