When Randy Foye was seven-years-old he developed pneumonia. Nothing unusual about that but at the same time something else was discovered. Foye’s heart is on his right side, not his left.
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ rookie guard said some people “panicked” when they learned about his heart prior to the NBA draft. Foye explained he’s one of about 100 people in the United States whose hearts are on the right side of their bodies. While Foye doesn’t know why this happened, he said the location of his heart is not a health problem (his liver and other organs are reversed, too).
“No, not at all,” Foye answered when asked about any potential health concerns. “Only thing is I probably get a cold easier but other than that everything is the same.”
Foye said he didn’t know why he would be susceptible to colds but said doctors told him that he is. He also said tests before the NBA draft calmed concerns by others about his heart. “You go through the tests. You see everything is the same as the person with the heart on this side (pointing to his left side). …”
Foye, who thinks he is one of the team’s best conditioned players, is encouraged by his play and that of the Timberwolves. He has become a key substitute off the bench, sometimes entering games in the first quarter. He is averaging 5.9 points and 1.6 assists per game and while his numbers aren’t big expectations remain that the seventh pick in the 2006 draft will become a star player.
The Timberwolves have won four consecutive games. Foye would love a Christmas present of 10 in a row. “I think we’re ready to go (and) me, too,” he said. “Right now we had our ups and we had our downs. …Now it’s time for us to roll.”
Foye was surprised when a visitor asked him last week about going back to Philadelphia where he played collegiately for Villanova. His name has been mentioned in trade speculation involving a multi-player deal with the Philadelphia 76ers that would bring Allen Iverson to Minnesota.
Foye apparently hadn’t heard about the rumor and expressed his commitment to the Timberwolves, but did say, “Whatever happens, happens.”