Q-and-A with Jonny Flynn

Last update: July 13, 2009 - 11:31 AM

The Timberwolves began Las Vegas Summer League play Sunday with Ricky Rubio still in Spain contemplating his future and Jonny Flynn starting at point guard in a 79-65 loss to Houston. Whether the consecutive first-round picks ever share the backcourt together still remains to be answered, but before he left for Vegas and before he delivered an 11-point, seven-assist, seven-turnover, 28-minute afternoon in his pro debut, Flynn, the former Syracuse guard, fielded many other questions about his future.

Q. David Kahn says he has never known another 6-foot guy who feels like he's 6-4. What about you gives that impression?

A. It's not the size that counts. You've seen that this year: [Houston point guard] Aaron Brooks really dominated the playoffs. No one could stay in front of him, and he might be 5-8. So I think it's the size of this thing beating inside your chest, and I have a big one of those.

Q. You played at Syracuse with the ball always in your hands. How will you possibly play off the ball in the same backcourt with Ricky Rubio?

A. Any NBA team isn't going to change what they're doing just for you. At Syracuse, I dominated the ball because Coach [Jim] Boeheim wanted me to. Coming into a new situation, you have to be open-minded about it. ... I would really love to get Ricky here and we can really try to work this thing out.

Q. You grew up in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and played at Syracuse. Snow and cold doesn't scare you, does it?

A. We probably get more snow in upstate New York than you get here. I actually have an uncle and a cousin who live in St. Paul. This is a great place to play.

Q. How much did that six-overtime victory over UConn in the Big East tournament change your life? (He played 67 minutes, scored 34 points, had 11 assists and was 16-for-16 at the free-throw line.)

A. That was everything. If it wasn't for that game, I'd be back at Syracuse right now. That was a game everybody -- East, Midwest, West Coast -- got to watch because it went on so long.

Q. Have you looked at the roster yet and seen how very few Gs -- guards -- are on it?

A. I've seen that, but we've got two beasts down low in Kevin Love and Al Jefferson. To be a successful team, you have to start down low. I think we already have that and we can build on that.

Q. Can you defend taller point guards in this league?

A. At my size, every point guard in the NBA is bigger than me. I'm going to have to get used to that right away.

Q. Are you fast enough to chase down those Kevin Love outlet passes?

A. Oh, definitely. That's what I'm waiting for, standing out there halfcourt. You can just call for it, you don't have to come back for the ball. You just take off.

Recent Timberwolves stories

Joe Johnson scores 24 points, Hawks beat Clippers 103-97 to improve to 20-5 at home - July 13, 2009

Joe Johnson scores 24 points, Hawks beat Clippers 103-97 to improve to 20-5 at home - Joe Johnson scored 34 points, Jamal Crawford added 22, and the Atlanta Hawks overcame a nine-point, fourth-quarter to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 103-97 on Wednesday night. More