Love wants to look the part for final weeks of downtime

Carlos Gonzalez, Dml - Star Tribune

Kevin Love

By PHIL MILLER, Star Tribune

Last update: November 21, 2009 - 9:22 PM

Print this story

More from Sports

After having his broken left hand X-rayed once more and consulting a specialist, Kevin Love now knows what he needs to do next.

Go shopping.

"I've run out of suits," the Wolves' second-year forward said of his inactive-list wardrobe. "I need to get a few more."

Another three weeks' worth, he figures, because that's how long doctors believe the bones in his hand need to fully heal. Love broke his hand during an Oct. 16 preseason game in Chicago, and underwent surgery four days later, so his recovery is following doctors' original six-to-eight-week timetable precisely.

It's a bit of a letdown for the 21-year-old Love, who had publicly targeted Friday for his return to practice.

"I was a little premature, I guess," Love said. "I've never been injured before, so I was just anxious to get back."

He's making progress, though. Love's stitches were removed two weeks ago, the cast came off last week, and doctors gave him a flexible splint to wear now. He can gradually return to practice, and perhaps go all-out in two weeks.

"They said I should add something, a little more each practice," Love said. "I can't have any contact yet, but I did some outside shooting and some dribbling today, and I'm working hard to get in shape."

Love flew with his teammates to his hometown of Portland, Ore., on Friday, and they'll visit his college home of Los Angeles to play the Clippers on Monday. He hates missing all these chances to play in front of friends and family, but if he returns to the Wolves' lineup in three weeks, that would put him back on the court against the Lakers in Los Angeles on Dec. 11.

But still, there's no concrete timetable. "I want to err on the side of caution, so this doesn't recur," Love said. The pain in his broken hand is nearly gone, though "sometimes there's a lot of tightness in there when I wake up," he said. "There are more good days than bad, that's the good news."

Giving follows him

It wasn't his idea, not originally. Damien Wilkins' annual Thanksgiving basket giveaway was started by a couple of his teammates in Seattle about five years ago.

But the Wolves' forward can't imagine Thanksgiving without it now.

"I really look forward to this, every year, no matter where I'm playing," he said.

It turned into an event in Seattle and Oklahoma City, and on Thursday, Wilkins continued his personal tradition in New Hope. The 29-year-old veteran spent Minnesota's off day at the Emergency Foodshelf Network offices, handing out roughly 200 baskets of turkey, ham, potatoes, vegetables, stuffing and pie to families in need of a Thanksgiving meal.

Wilkins picks up the cost of the annual event, with the Wolves' charity foundation kicking in this year, too. "With the economy right now, I wanted to keep doing this when I got traded to Minnesota," he said. "I just feel a responsibility to the community to provide whatever help I can."

Recent Sports stories

Super Bowl ads: Betty White, Bud Light, big laughs in annual showcase of product pitches - November 21, 2009

Super Bowl ads: Betty White, Bud Light, big laughs in annual showcase of product pitches - Betty White plays football, babies talk about "milkaholics" and a house made of Bud Light cans falls slowly apart. More