MINNEAPOLIS – Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, who underwent surgery on the broken third and fourth metacarpals in his right hand on Tuesday, will remain in New York for the near term to begin his rehab.
Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn was in New York with Love on Tuesday and visited with him after the surgery. He said the power forward began his rehab program on Friday.
"The doctor who performed the surgery wants to manage the rehab at the outset," Kahn said. "We haven't defined yet how many days that will be, but I anticipate him being there for at least 10 days."
Kahn said that the 10-day window is not specific at this point; he doesn't know if it'll be 10 days from Friday or 10 days from the surgery. The doctor who performed the surgery, Michelle Carlson at the Hospital for Special Surgery, simply wants to keep a close eye on Love's rehab as it begins.
When Love broke the bones on Jan. 3 – he's expected to be out 8 to 10 weeks -- it was the second such injury to his right hand this season, and it would make sense that this rehab be slightly more managed than the last, which resulted in a second injury just more than two months after the first. Even so, Kahn said he's optimistic about Love's condition.
"The doctors felt it was a very successful surgery and felt very confident he'll have a full return to health," Kahn said.
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