So when guard Brandon Roy decided to make a comeback and Minnesota became interested, one particular message started to become clear. “Just talking with people around the NBA, and the first thing they said was if you have a chance to play with Coach Adelman, you should do it,” Roy said. “The way he manages players who maybe have some injuries and can still get the most out of them. He was the big reason.” Adelman was one of several voices that helped Roy decide which team he’d join as he officially made his NBA comeback on Tuesday at Target Center. Roy, who missed the entire 2011-12 season with ongoing knee problems, became the newest member of the Timberwolves after leaving the game, resting his knees and undergoing a Regenokine injection procedure that helped him control the swelling and pain that once took its toll. Roy said Tuesday he never referred to his time away as a retirement. Instead, it was a pause—a break from the game he loved in order to see if he could, in fact, still play at a high level.
With Roy, who twice averaged 20-plus points a season and was been a top-10 NBA scorer, the Wolves just added another offensive weapon known for making clutch shots with the game on the line. “I wanted to be able to go out there and work and be a big part of a team making the next step,” Roy said. “And I thought the pieces were right here, and David talked a lot about the guys they were getting. I think getting Andrei Kirilenko is huge. The pieces are there. You can tell they want to go forward with this team and continue to improve it, and I just wanted to be a part of that improvement.” Kahn made it known to Roy that he can earn as big a role on the team as he’s able. The durability and longevity of his knees is still an unknown, and how many minutes he’ll play to start the year and throughout the course of the season is still to be seen. Roy acknowledged making sure the team is physically peaking for the playoffs is an important part of any seasons. But on Tuesday, as Roy met members of the Wolves organization, season ticket members and the media, there was no wavering on how he felt about his decision. Roy is genuinely excited to be back in the NBA, and he said he’s excited to move forward with the Timberwolves organization. The smile on his face never dimmed while doing day-long interviews, promotions and meet-and-greets. He’s ready to start the next phase of his career. “I wanted to be part of a team I could really assist and help take that next step,” Roy said. “I’m really excited to be here—my wife is here with me. We’re excited to be part of this community, and we’re looking forward to getting out, connecting with fans and putting a great team on the floor that gives them something to cheer about.”