Saturday night Randy Foye asked a visitor in the Timberwovles’ locker room to say a prayer for him. That response tells you something about his desire to receive a favorable progress report this morning when he receives medical tests on a sore left knee that has kept him from playing in all eight of the team’s regular season games.
Even the most favorable MRI or CT scan won’t return the second year guard to the starting lineup immediately. He will need time to develop his conditioning, but from the coaching staff to the fans, anyone who has watched the Wolves lose seven of their first eight games knows the sooner he returns the better.
Not always, but often enough, the Wolves have crumbled in the fourth quarter. As a rookie Foye scored 48 percent of his points for the season during the final period and overtime. “He’s a big fourth quarter guy,” coach Randy Wittman said. “He showed that last year. …”
Foye, who made the NBA all-rookie team last season while averaging 10.1 points and 2.8 assists per game, doesn’t expect to fail in pressure situations. He told Sports Headliners that when he shoots the ball “there’s an 80 percent chance of going in” because of similar success in practice.
“I am never afraid to take the big shot, or to make the big play,” Foye said. “Just because that’s just my personality.”
The 24-year-old, 6-foot-4 Foye was asked if he agreed that when he does return to the Wolves most of his minutes will be at point guard, rather than shooting guard. “Definitely, I think it will be but I am just trying to get back right now (to the lineup),” he said. “I am not worrying about minutes or anything. I am just trying to get back.”
Foye said the reason he injured his knee (stress reaction in his knee cap) is because he worked so hard during the off-season. Although Foye’s timeline has changed for contributing this season, his desire hasn’t and that will ultimately benefit the Wolves.