The Rookie Life

January 29, 2011 | From: Wolves Radio

Like most rookies in the NBA, Wes Johnson of the MN Timberwolves has had his ups and down throughout this season, he started the first 35 games and scored his first NBA points on a massive dunk over the Sacramento Kings.

But last week Wes may have hit the rookie wall as his minutes went down and he received his first NBA DNP-CD (did not play coaches decision)

Like a true professional though, Wes responded. First on Monday night as he scored 19 points off the bench in 33 minutes and then again on Wednesday as he scored 13 and MN took the Thunder to overtime.
Earlier this week I asked Wes about his mindset during that tough stretch.
"My mindset didn't really change," he said "I just stayed in the gym a lot more. As my minutes decreased I just came in the gym earlier and tried to stay as late as possible. So my mindset didn't really change it just gave me an extra boost."

In the past two games Wes has showed off parts of his game that many fans have not seen up to this point, taking guys off the dribble and going into the post.

"It's really just getting back into the flow of how I used to play. I got a lot of text messages after the game people saying I looked like I was in college and growing up. They said I was back to my old self and they were happy to see it so they told me just to continue it."

When asked about some of the things the coaching staff has asked him to do differently than he did in College Wes said, "I think most of its being confident with it. He (Coach Rambis) just said told me to go out there and be me, play my game and really just go out there and play basically."

He went on to say that when Rambis gave him that advice it helped relax him.

"(Felt like a) Humongous weight been taken off my shoulders when he told me that, so I'm just going out there having fun and being myself."

This week Wes has seen success coming off the bench for the Wolves and that is a role that Coach Rambis wants to keep him in for the time being as he said he likes the energy that Corey Brewer brings to the starting lineup.