One year ago, Randy Foye was gearing up for the second training camp of his young NBA career. Foye was coming off a successful rookie season in which he played in all 82 games and averaged 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 22.9 minutes per game. By any measure, Foye's rookie season was as good as one could 
expect; his play even landed him the Western Conference Rookie of the Month recognition for the month of December.
Perhaps most notable about Foye's play in 2006-07 was that 48-percent of his points came in the fourth quarter or overtime periods, while shooting 48.2 percent from the field in those situations. Foye had the makings of the type of big-game crunch-time scorer that is so valuable in the NBA.
But one year ago, early on in training camp, Foye started feeling pain in his left knee. "I knew I had a problem probably the second day of training camp," said Foye today after his second day of the 2008-09 training camp. "I knew after the first day that it didn't feel right, because even after getting ice it was still killing me. I tried to play through it, I played through the whole training camp...but then I got a CT bone scan, and that's when it showed up." The prognosis turned out to be a stress reaction in his left kneecap. Sounds tame enough, but the injury kept Foye on the sidelines for half the season.
Meanwhile, the team struggled through the first 40 games, and Foye had a difficult time sitting still on the bench. "Fred Hoiberg called me with the results of the bone scan and he told me I was going to be out three weeks, so I was like 'alright, I'll rest it up,'" said Foye. "I thought I would only miss 11 games and then I went back three weeks later and the doctor said it would be another three weeks, and I went back again and he said another three weeks. So it just dragged on and got frustrating."
This year, Foye enters training camp with high hopes and high expectations. The team kept a core group of young players around for 2008-09 (Telfair, Brewer, McCants, Smith, Gomes), and added a couple veterans to spread the floor and provide experience (Miller, Collins, Cardinal). When it comes to his game this season, Foye says it's the little things that will matter now that there are more options on the floor. "My main focus this year, coming into training camp, is just being a leader. I know we have enough offensive power to win, but doing those little things on defense is going to make us pass teams who are slacking."
With the added pressure of high expectations for this season, head coach Randy Wittman has also put a great deal of stock into Foye. Wittman expects Foye to direct the tempo of the game and the flow of the offense on his own, without too much babysitting from the bench. He also expressed a need for his point guard to have thick skin. "I'm harder on my point guards than anybody else," admitted Wittman. "He's an extension of me out there on the floor. The more I can sit there and watch the game, the better."
The former Villanova star, who led his college team to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2006, is now expected to be the floor leader of a young NBA team with a high ceiling. With an eight-year veteran to look for on the floor in Mike Miller, as well as a 20-point, 10-rebound big man in Al Jefferson, Foye anticipates having a lot of help. The Timberwolves are also stocked with three backcourt players who shot above 40-percent from the three-point line last season (Foye, Miller, McCants) and two post players who shot over 50-percent from the field, so the options for the point guard are plentiful. Due to the Timberwolves' added depth, Foye expects his job to be easier this season. "It's not that tough being a floor general, some people make it tough," said Foye. "As a floor general you just have to talk. You have to speak up. You have to lead by example. And that's it."
So how will success be measured? According to Wittman: "I don't want to be a guy who has to constantly be up and dictating what we're doing out on the floor." So if Coach Wittman remains seated, Foye must be doing his job. Although if you've ever seen Wittman coach a game, keeping him seated is tougher than it looks.
expect; his play even landed him the Western Conference Rookie of the Month recognition for the month of December.Perhaps most notable about Foye's play in 2006-07 was that 48-percent of his points came in the fourth quarter or overtime periods, while shooting 48.2 percent from the field in those situations. Foye had the makings of the type of big-game crunch-time scorer that is so valuable in the NBA.
But one year ago, early on in training camp, Foye started feeling pain in his left knee. "I knew I had a problem probably the second day of training camp," said Foye today after his second day of the 2008-09 training camp. "I knew after the first day that it didn't feel right, because even after getting ice it was still killing me. I tried to play through it, I played through the whole training camp...but then I got a CT bone scan, and that's when it showed up." The prognosis turned out to be a stress reaction in his left kneecap. Sounds tame enough, but the injury kept Foye on the sidelines for half the season.
Meanwhile, the team struggled through the first 40 games, and Foye had a difficult time sitting still on the bench. "Fred Hoiberg called me with the results of the bone scan and he told me I was going to be out three weeks, so I was like 'alright, I'll rest it up,'" said Foye. "I thought I would only miss 11 games and then I went back three weeks later and the doctor said it would be another three weeks, and I went back again and he said another three weeks. So it just dragged on and got frustrating."
This year, Foye enters training camp with high hopes and high expectations. The team kept a core group of young players around for 2008-09 (Telfair, Brewer, McCants, Smith, Gomes), and added a couple veterans to spread the floor and provide experience (Miller, Collins, Cardinal). When it comes to his game this season, Foye says it's the little things that will matter now that there are more options on the floor. "My main focus this year, coming into training camp, is just being a leader. I know we have enough offensive power to win, but doing those little things on defense is going to make us pass teams who are slacking."
With the added pressure of high expectations for this season, head coach Randy Wittman has also put a great deal of stock into Foye. Wittman expects Foye to direct the tempo of the game and the flow of the offense on his own, without too much babysitting from the bench. He also expressed a need for his point guard to have thick skin. "I'm harder on my point guards than anybody else," admitted Wittman. "He's an extension of me out there on the floor. The more I can sit there and watch the game, the better."
The former Villanova star, who led his college team to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2006, is now expected to be the floor leader of a young NBA team with a high ceiling. With an eight-year veteran to look for on the floor in Mike Miller, as well as a 20-point, 10-rebound big man in Al Jefferson, Foye anticipates having a lot of help. The Timberwolves are also stocked with three backcourt players who shot above 40-percent from the three-point line last season (Foye, Miller, McCants) and two post players who shot over 50-percent from the field, so the options for the point guard are plentiful. Due to the Timberwolves' added depth, Foye expects his job to be easier this season. "It's not that tough being a floor general, some people make it tough," said Foye. "As a floor general you just have to talk. You have to speak up. You have to lead by example. And that's it."
So how will success be measured? According to Wittman: "I don't want to be a guy who has to constantly be up and dictating what we're doing out on the floor." So if Coach Wittman remains seated, Foye must be doing his job. Although if you've ever seen Wittman coach a game, keeping him seated is tougher than it looks.
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