Published: February 25, 2009
I remember growing up and being read the story of the lazy rabbit who lost a race to a tortoise. Each time I heard this story I would chuckle at the rabbit for losing a race he had not business losing while wondering how a tortoise could ever win a race against an obviously quicker rabbit.
While this is nothing more than a children’s story to teach kids a lesson to keep working hard and doing their best, I can’t help but draw comparison to the tortoise and Randy Foye’s career so far in the NBA.
Foye played in all 82 games his rookie season, however he only averaged 10.1 points and 22.9 minutes; hardly the kind of numbers Timberwolves fans expected from a lottery pick.
Things didn’t get much better last season as he was limited to 39 games and when he did he play he only averaged 13.1 points.
However, instead of wallowing in self pity or giving up, Foye acted like the tortoise and continued to work hard with the Timberwolves coaching staff.
Even this season Foye got off to a slow start despite being excited about the upcoming season back in October when I talked to him. Foye was so excited during the preseason that he couldn’t stop smiling when I asked him about his goals for this season and he genuinely believed Minnesota had a chance at cracking the playoffs this season.
In November, Foye only averaged 12.1 points but then increased his scoring production to 16.6 points in December. Since he returned in January, Foye has anchored Minnesota’s offense by averaging 19.4 points in January and is now averaging 20.2 points in February.
These stats have been even higher of late as he’s averaging 24.5 over his past six games because during this stretch Foye scored a career-high 33 points against Toronto and then a couple days later he beat that by hanging 36 points in Indiana.
So, what caused this slow and steady turnaround this season?
“Just a lot of hard work,” Foye told Hoops Addict earlier this week. “Earlier on I was shooting the ball poorly but I got in the gym and put up a lot of extra shots and it just shows in my performance.”
While many fans will look at Foye’s improved stats as a byproduct of Al Jefferson being out, Minnesota Timberwolves general manager and now head coach Kevin McHale doesn’t see things that way.
“Guys are going to step up and it’s going to continue to be different people but Randy (Foye) has been real solid for us,” McHale boasted to Hoops Addict. “In fact, Randy has been real solid for us from the first of the year on. I thought he and Al (Jefferson) really went through a period where we were winning some games. Randy is a big game player and he’s not afraid. He’s made big shots and he’s taken big shots. He’s been great for us.”
So, why did it take Foye so long to get into a groove and become a big contributor? According to McHale, it comes down to one word: rhythm.
“He’s a good player, he’s played real well, it’s just that basketball is a strange thing and you’ve got to get going. He missed half of last year because he was hurt and basketball is a rhythm thing. If you find your rhythm and you’re a good player than your usually play really well. And rhythm comes and goes, just like the weather and you’ve got to just stay in it.”
Hopefully Foye’s career continues to parallel that of the tortoise and the rhythm that he’s started to build with Jefferson out continues into next season. If it does, then Timberwolves fans might have a lot to cheer about with the young trio of Al Jefferson, Kevin Love and Foye.
Not only that, but Foye’s claim about the Timberwolves being a playoff caliber team might be closer to fruition than anyone realizes.
Photo Credit: ICON Sports Media
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