He’s struggled to get minutes for much of his NBA career, suited up for three teams in little more than three years and been in and out of trouble with the law.
This is not what Sebastian Telfair expected when he was a lottery pick of the Trail Blazers four years ago, straight out of Lincoln High School in Brooklyn.
Last night, the 22-year-old Coney Island native returned to the Garden to face his cousin Stephon Marbury and the Knicks – this time as starting point guard for the youthful T’wolves, insisting he’s finally focused on basketball, and on solidifying his future in the NBA.
“Of course I wish I had done some things differently,” said Telfair, whose latest trouble was an April arrest on a charge of having a loaded gun in his car.
“I’ve learned from all of that. Now, here I am, ready to play basketball.”
He’s entering the final season of a four-year contract and understands how important this year is.
“There’s a lot riding on how well I do,” said Telfair, who’s starting in place of the injured Randy Foye.
Telfair said he had a chance to sign an extension after being traded from Boston, but opted to play out this year.
He points to one of his old high-school rivals, Darius Washington, as proof he made the right decision to forego a chance to play college ball at Louisville. Washington only recently landed with the Spurs.
“Absolutely, absolutely,” said Telfair, who had nine points and seven assists in last night’s 97-93 loss. “I don’t know what would have happened if I went there, if I would get the opportunity to play in the NBA.”
But Louisville coach Rick Pitino thinks college could have benefited Telfair – especially off the court.
“I think from a maturity standpoint, it would have helped,” Pitino told The Post. “I’m still surprised by that stuff, especially the gun situations.”
Regardless of what moves Telfair has made in the past, he’s now looking to a future – in Minnesota.
“This could definitely be a home for me,” he said. “That’s something that’s very important to me.”