Nuggets’ top pick has knee surgery

The Nuggets said Hodge is expected to be back at full strength in about a month.

Hodge, a 6-foot-7 swingman, was the 20th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. He averaged 17 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists as a senior at North Carolina State last season and was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year as a junior.

In six games for the Nuggets’ Summer League team, Hodge averaged 13.3 points and 5.8 rebounds.