Brandon Roy told Vince Cellini and Dennis Scott of NBA TV that during the 2010/11 season with the Blazers, "people around me got down on me," as Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge transcribes (Sulia link). That was a bittersweet year for Roy, who played in just 47 regular season games, coming off the bench for all but 23 of them as he recovered from arthroscopic surgeries on both knees. It was as a reserve that Roy seemed to announce his return to health as he led the Blazers to a fourth-quarter rally against the eventual champion Mavericks in Game 4 of their first round playoff matchup, but he hasn't played an NBA game since that series. Roy will be back soon, this time with the Wolves, and Golliver provides a longer transcription of the interview that touches on why he chose Minnesota and how his game has changed. Here are the highlights:
On his decision to come back, and why he picked the Wolves:
"It really is a crazy story. For me, I'm just happy to be back with the Wolves. For the last six or seven months after the whole amnesty and me sitting out, I had a conversation with my agent. I said, in my heart, I don't feel like I'm done playing basketball and I want to make a comeback. I told him with this coming back, I don't want to say that sitting on my couch. I want to get in the gym and start working and preparing for really coming back and giving it an honest effort. He called me and said there's a doctor down in Los Angeles doing the Regenecon procedure that a lot of NBA players and baseball guys are having. he said it would be great to go down there and do it. I flew down there and had the procedures done and ever since then I've just been feeling really good. I started meeting with teams, Minnesota showed a lot of interest and I was just happy to get a deal done and I feel extremely good being here."
Regarding his health and how that affects his on-court abilities:
"Honestly, right now and all summer long, I've been preparing to not have to take a step back with my game. I'll be honest, some of the lift isn't what it used to be. But my explosiveness, my explosiveness to get to the basket, is good. More than anything, I think I'm a lot smarter of a basketball player. The NBA season is long and my body isn't what it used to be. Right now I feel great. Me and coach [Rick] Adelman are going to sit down before the season and communicate throughout the year about how I'm feeling and what's the best way to get the most out of me. I feel great, right now there's nothing holding me back, I can go out there and play as much as I like."
About Kevin Love's influence:
"I'm really excited. He was the first guy to text me when I was meeting with Minnesota. The first thing I asked [Timberwolves president] David Kahn was, 'How does Love feel that I fit in?' He was just real excited to have me. He texted to say he would love to have me on the team and he was looking forward to training camp and improving. That made me feel great. Kevin Love had an incredible season last year and to cap it off with the Olympic team and all those great players. I just want to come in next year and help them make the next step, which is to get to the playoffs. Just so he can get that experience because I think he deserves it."