Last season, the Minnesota Timberwolves gave Brandon Roy one last chance.
Roy was amnestied by Portland and had retired from the game because his knees had gotten so bad he couldn’t contribute. He couldn’t play anymore. However, Roy is about as competitive a guy as there is in the league so he got treatment for a year, he rested his knee, he did anything and everything he could to get right. He felt better, he was working out and so the Timberwolves gave him a chance.
Five games. That’s how long his comeback lasted. His knees would not hold up.
Everyone else knew it was the end. Now Roy, speaking at a University of Washington alumni event, sounded like a guy who has reached the same conclusion, reports ESPN’s Kevin Pelton.
Reviewing the tape, I accidentally misquoted Brandon Roy. He said his basketball days are *numbered*, not done.
— Kevin Pelton (@kpelton) June 24, 2013
The rest of the tone, looking back on his career and ahead to what comes next, still indicates he's done playing at a professional level.
— Kevin Pelton (@kpelton) June 24, 2013
I can’t imagine another NBA team giving him a shot at this point.
I choose not to remember the Minnesota Roy. I choose to remember the Rookie of the Year Roy, the three time All-Star Roy, the guy who scored 22.6 points a game and more than that controlled the flow of those games. I will remember the guy that could take over games like few could. That’s the Roy I will remember, and I will wish it hadn’t all ended so soon.
