Returning home after you have been away for so long is always something to look forward to. For Minnesota Timberwolves forward Robert Covington, he will be making his return to Philadelphia on Wednesday playing for the first time in front of Sixers fans in an opposing uniform. He was sent to Minnesota for Jimmy Butler in November after a little over four seasons with the team.

Covington was named to the All-Defensive Team in 2018 and he became a fixture in Philadelphia before being sent to Minnesota. After giving his all, becoming one of the real champions of the “process”, and the team on the verge of growing something substantial, it hurt him to have to leave for Minnesota. He wanted to be a part of the team pushing through and becoming a real threat in the NBA.

“Of course, being here for many years, of course, you’d want to see it,” said Covington. “That opportunity went out the door once they made the change and my focus shifted to Minnesota. Ultimately, that was my main goal to be the best player I can be for this team now.”

Covington went on to reminisce on the playoff run in 2018 as the team made a run to the semifinals after the lean years and the growth of his game as a player.

“The playoff run that we went on,” he added. “Then the rough years of us being able to get minutes and actually develop into an actual NBA player. There was a lot of stigma behind me coming out that people didn’t believe that I could be here. I was given an opportunity and I made the best of it. I think that’s the biggest thing that I embrace about in my time here.”

The former Sixers mainstay did not play in the original return game in 2019 due to injury, but he will now start for Minnesota facing off with the team that developed him into the regular NBA starter he is now.