LOS ANGELES – A dozen games into a return from April surgery on his right Achilles' tendon, Timberwolves veteran center Nikola Pekovic is a man frustrated.
His tattooed arms ripple with muscles and he could bench press a refrigerator, but his feet haven't consistently carried him without causing pain going on four seasons now.
Surgery last spring was considered a last chance to allow the 6-11 Pekovic to run and play maybe something like he once did, which was well enough to earn a five-year, $60 million contract that has two more full seasons remaining.
But after nearly nine months of rest and rehabilitation, his foot still hurts when he runs and jumps and his playing time and productivity seemingly decrease by the game: From highs of 12 points in his first game back Jan. 6 against Denver and 18 minutes played Jan. 15 at Oklahoma City to six minutes in Sunday's loss at Portland and one point scored his past three games combined.
Pekovic does not want to be reminded of such things, but somebody did anyway Sunday, when it was mentioned that he seems a little frustrated.
"Do I? Really?" he said. "Why do you think? So, you know, it's frustrating because it's still hurting. When you do all these treatments and you still got pain, you kind of get a little down. That's normal."
A month after he turned 30, the native of Montenegro finds himself in something of a paradox: A man so big and physical but so limited by the complexity of the human foot's muscles, tendons and nerves.
"It's so hard for Pek, with the uniqueness of how he plays," Wolves interim coach Sam Mitchell said. "His feet hurt all the time. How does he get all that back? Normally, you get your game back by doing work, putting in extra time. Well, if your feet hurt, how do you put in extra work? It's tough."
