MINNEAPOLIS -- During halftime on opening night for the Minnesota Timberwolves, point guard Terrell Brandon stood in a hallway wearing a sharp suit while his sweaty teammates headed toward the locker room without him. Nearby, Minnesota governor and former pro wrestling star Jesse "The Body" Ventura showed his admiration for Brandon's digs by saying: "You're really looking good. You're Senate material."

	Terrell Brandon, top, played only 32 games for the Wolves last season.

"No question," Brandon answered.

In a perfect -- and healthy -- world, Brandon would much rather have been complimented by the grappling governor about being All-Star material, like he was in 1996 and 1997 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. But since having major knee surgery to repair fractured cartilage in February, there's some question about when -- or if -- the 11-year NBA veteran will ever play again. Brandon's rehabilitation was actually going well, but a setback in August forced him to start from scratch.

"I was so far ahead this summer and then all of a sudden on the treadmill I felt this pain," Brandon said. "I took a couple days off. I felt the pain and was concerned about it. A doctor in Cleveland told me what it was and started talking about kneecap replacement and that type of stuff. That scared me and I'm a little nervous about it.

"I'm just taking it one week at a time (now). Some say (I will return in) 18 months, some say February and some say never."

Without Brandon, the Timberwolves have had a rotating door of point guards.

Last season, Chauncey Billups, William Avery and Robert Pack ran the point. This season, it's Troy Hudson, Rod Strickland and rookie Igor Rakocevic. As was the case last season, Brandon has had a difficult time watching, especially in person.

"I hate to go out there," said Brandon, who, while rehabilitating in Oregon, two-way paged suggestions to Billups during games (Billups read the messages afterward, of course). "I'm kind of sweating my suit out. I'm just hanging out. But I'm just here for my teammates in case they need something. They may need me for advice. And a wink of the eye sometimes is good. It's hard to watch practice and games are pretty much the same, man."

The thought of having bad knees once he retires is something that flashes in Brandon's mind. He doesn't want to walk in pain each day for the rest of his life. But he isn't ready to unlace his shoes, either.

"It is worth it?" Brandon said. "Only a handful (of players) can get to this point. I like it when I am on the streets and people start measuring themselves up to me and say, 'You look bigger on TV.' I think it gives people more appreciation of how difficult it is to play at this high level."

One thing is for sure: If Brandon does make it back to the hardwood, it won't be as an old has-been.

	“	I don't think it's fair to the organization to be in one week and the next week be out. I don't want to take them through that. The fans have been good to me here in Minnesota ... If I go out there, it's because I'm 100 percent and not because I am trying to be this brave guy. ”
		— Terrell Brandon

"The only way I would come back is if I was 100 percent," said Brandon, who hasn't settled on a deadline date to decide whether he'll play again. "I don't want to go back and forth. From an emotional standpoint and for me, I don't think it's fair to the organization to be in one week and the next week be out. I don't want to take them through that. The fans have been good to me here in Minnesota and I don't want to take them through that, either. If I go out there, it's because I'm 100 percent and not because I am trying to be this brave guy."

And if he doesn't make it back, Brandon definitely has nothing to be ashamed.

At a debateable 5-foot-11, Brandon isn't the prototypical point guard. He doesn't have super jumping ability. He didn't have the long-range jumper to enter a 3-point shooting contest or the quickness to be compared with Allen Iverson. But Brandon rarely makes mistakes. He is one of the most efficient guards and can run an offense as good as anyone.

"When I came into the league, people thought I wouldn't last a year," Brandon said. "I came from Oregon and pretty much unknown, and to stick around for 11 years ... All I wanted was a pension when I came into the league. Now, here I am 12 years later.

"I have nothing to apologize for. I'm flattered and honored to be in the league. I've been to the All-Star game twice. Since I've been in Minnesota, we've won 50 games-plus (each season) and that didn't happen before I got here. My assist-to-turnover ratio is a record. I've had some things that I can look back on -- if it is it -- and say I've had a solid career."

Marc J. Spears, who covers the Denver Nuggets for the Denver Post, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.