Utah Jazz players conduct a special clinic for large group of Special Olympians

MADRID — Paul Millsap realizes most, and probably all, did not know him from … say, Carlos Boozer.

"I think we're just big ol' basketball players to them," Millsap said.

Still, doing what he and other members of the Jazz organization did Wednesday was much more satisfying than signing an autograph or posing for a photo.

As part of the NBA Cares program, and their NBA EuropeLive tour, Utah players, coaches and staff members high-fived, patted and otherwise encouraged about 75 Special Olympians during a team-hosted clinic at the Palacio de Deportes, where the Jazz will play a preseason game today against Spanish League power Real Madrid.

Jazz strength coach and South Carolina native Mark McKown led the Special Olympians through stretching exercises as Jazz players did jumping jacks besides them — replete with shouts of Southern drawl-twanged "uno, dos, tres" — and the players later took over running layup lines and conducting passing drills.

"It's a different experience, coming over here and interacting with the Spanish community," Millsap said. "That's big for us, that's huge for the NBA. … It's a great experience overall."