Brandon Roy: Timberwolves ‘believed in me’ - KMSP-TV

The Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday introduced free agent acquisition Brandon Roy – a player originally drafted by the Wolves, the team the un-retired guard says believed he could make a successful comeback to the NBA.

Roy retired in 2011 after five seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. Degenerated knees forced the 28-year-old out of basketball, but a positive reaction to blood-spinning therapy – a treatment also used by Kobe Bryant and Tigers Woods – helped steer him toward a comeback.

"I'm not saying I'm Kobe, but my body felt really good," Roy said.

After meeting with Timberwolves general manager David Kahn in Los Angeles, Roy said he knew Minnesota was where he wanted to play.

"I'm excited to be back in the NBA," Roy said. "After two months of pushing myself, my body felt great…It was never my decision to retire. After a few months of sitting out, I decided I wanted to continue."

So which Brandon Roy are the Timberwolves getting? The All-Star caliber, clutch scoring floor general, or the former star with bad knees?

"I wouldn't be coming back if I didn't think I could reach a high level of basketball," Roy said. "My body is giving signs I can do that."

Roy joked that his aunt still has a photo of him wearing his Timberwolves hat on draft night. His rights were traded that same night for Randy Foye, but he says it's good to be back in Minnesota.

"I'm happy to be here and be a part of the organization for a little longer than 30 minutes," he said.

Brandon Roy's decision to come to Minnesota came down to two major factors: the team's belief in him as a player, and the opportunity to play for head coach Rick Adelman.

"Talking to people around the NBA, they said if you could play for Adelman, you should," Roy said.

"Minnesota was the team that really believed in me. They continued to call and watch me workout. They said the sky's the limit. Other teams wanted me to have a smaller role. Minnesota said that I could earn as big a role as I wanted."