Between no cartilage in his knees and another setback in his NBA return in Minnesota, Brandon Roy is not ready to retire just yet, but that is not keeping him from thinking and talking about life after basketball.
Truth be told, that life after basketball could be right back in the game on an NBA sideline if the former All-Star guard had to write the next chapter.
On Thursday, Roy spoke to reporters about his timetable with the Wolves after last playing in a game on Nov. 9 and undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee at the end of November.
There are moments when I don't know if it will happen again," Roy said of returning to the court. "And then I'll start working out, building, and I get to a place where I have a great workout.
One of the best young talents in the NBA since being named the 2007 Rookie of the Year with Portland and prior to his health troubles, Roy went from a franchise player and all-star to an emotional retirement process that eventually led to Roy giving it one more try. But how many more times can he undergo knee treatment before he’s comfortable with walking away from his playing days?
Those days could be coming to an end, even if Roy does not want to let his mind go there.
In a separate and very insightful interview, Roy spoke with Chris B. Haynes of CSNNW.com, saying he is “not ready to say I'm going to retire.” But he said playing the 15 games this year in Minnesota “would be good enough for me.”
“As soon as it happened, in my head, I said 'I quit. I just quit. That was my first thought, that I couldn't do this anymore,” Roy continued to say he felt more pain in his knees last weekend and opted to slow down his plans to play in his next game.
There may come a time this season where Roy may just have to shut it down all together, placing his NBA return at a whole five games instead of finishing up the last 15 games of the season. Because at this rate, “Roy suffers another setback in his return”, is becoming a very familiar headline that rears its ugly head about every three weeks or so.
Let it go. Walk away from the game knowing you gave it one last shot. Be content with the decision. And know mentally and physically you went out on your own terms: that’s become the reality of Roy’s decision process.
So what does Roy want to do after he’s finally made up his mind to leave the game behind?
How about coaching in the NBA.
Now, I think there's something in me that I can offer to basketball. There's a message that I can bring to basketball. I wasn't the fastest, the highest jumper, but my knowledge of the game helped me be an effective player at a high level,” Roy said.
“Coaching at the NBA level is where I see myself. If this season is it for me, I'm not staying away from basketball. I would want to get in as soon as possible.
