LAS VEGAS — It’s a case of role reversal for Ryan Gomes.

He tried to soak in as much as he could in his first two seasons with the Celtics, listening to advice from Paul Pierce, the only veteran on a team dominated by youth and inexperience.

Now it is Gomes’ turn to play the role of mentor. This week, he’s offering his knowledge to the Minnesota Timberwolves Summer League team in Las Vegas.

“Even though I know time is flying and it’s going to be my fifth year, when you’ve got a lot of young guys on the team, you want to share some knowledge,” Gomes said. “I don’t know it all and I don’t think there are a lot of people who do, but when you watch the games you want to help them to get better. As players, you’re always trying to help each other out.”

When Gomes isn’t helping the Timberwolves, he is improving his own game at Joe Abunassar’s Impact Basketball in Las Vegas, along with former Celtic Sebastian Telfair. The shortage of wing players on the Timberwolves means Gomes may have to play in the backcourt as well, and he is focusing on his game away from the basket to increase his shooting percentage.

Last season he averaged 13.3 points and 4.8 rebounds, shooting 43 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range.

“We’ve just got to be prepared,” he said. “We’ve got to be on our Ps and Qs because you just never know what can happen. It’s our job over the summertime when you’re not around the coaches and you can’t play in Summer League to work on your game and be ready for next year, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

Gomes is not the only ex-Celtic looking to help the Timberwolves have a successful season. He noted Al Jefferson has been diligently rehabbing from ACL surgery to get back in the game as their leading scorer and rebounder.

“He’s doing good. He’s way ahead of schedule,” Gomes said. “He’s training hard and he’s on the court a little bit. We need him back, of course. He’s our All-Star, he’s the motor that goes, so hopefully next year we’ll have a good year.”

While he is focused on helping the Timberwolves win next season, the Celtics are still on his mind — even two years after being traded.

“I’m still learning from Paul and I’ll still learn from Ray (Allen) and all those other guys because of the fact that they have knowledge of the game,” he said. “Doc Rivers was great to me, Danny Ainge and those guys gave me an opportunity by drafting me, so I stay in touch with them and I still watch a lot of their games because when they made the trade, I knew what it was for. It was to win it.”

And that’s a good example to follow.

6 Comments for “Role reversal for Gomes”

1. Celtics Fan Says:
   July 14th, 2009 at 11:23 am

   Ryan Gomes was always a class act and its good to see he continues to be one. I think he aspires to be in broadcasting when his playing days are done which would be a great 2nd career for him. I wish him and the Wolves good luck, he deserves good things.

2. rick m Says:
   July 14th, 2009 at 6:46 pm

   here’s a one side trade that favors the C’c. Tony Allen, Gabe Pruit and a second round pick for Ryan Gomes. Unfortunately the wrong draft pick was traded in the KG trade

3. Bobby Lynn Says:
   July 15th, 2009 at 12:13 am

   Ryan Gomes is one of the most classiest and nicest people that I had the chance to meet. My son was working at a local Shaws when Ryan was still with the Celtics, and he and Bobby took to one another…of course my son was in awe ! One day I was picking up my son from Shaws, so I call him on his cell and he says…Dad, I’m busy….I said, No Bobby…I’m busy, lets go ! Wouldnt you know it, Bobby was down at the GameStop videogames playing NBA with none other than Mr. Ryan Gomes….what couldI say !!! LOL
   I agree with rick m ….BRING GOMES BACK TO THE GREEN !!!

4. Matt Says:
   July 15th, 2009 at 9:48 am

   Ryan Gomes is just an amazing person, check out this story that is on espn,http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3567421, it just reassures everything that I think about ryan. I would love for the opportunity to meet him. If only we could make a trade to get him back here, im with rick m allen and pruitt for gomes any day. GO PC, GO Boston Jr’s (Minn. T-wolves), and Go Green Team!!!!

5. Kristen Surman Says:
   July 15th, 2009 at 12:21 pm

   Bobby Lynn, I had an experience like that with Ryan too. He was running a camp at Strike One in Danvers and I wanted to meet him so I went up there and while I was waiting for him to arrive I played PACMAN. Who walks over to join? Ryan. AWESOME GUY.

   I’ve always like Ryan Gomes’s style of play and I can say the same for Al Jefferson. To be honest, when I first found out that they traded them to the Timberwolves for KG I was upset. I liked watching those guys develop and I know they really wanted to stay here in Boston. Obviously KG has turned this team around but I still wish we had Ryan and Big Al on the roster.

6. JSKCKNIT Says:
   July 18th, 2009 at 4:47 am

   Ryan definitely is a class guy and I hope the NBA gives him more face time. He definitely believes in community and family. I hated to see him and Big Al go.

   Thanks for stories above exemplify the type of person he is. I hosted a few of my coworkers at a preseason game at Mohegan Sun a few years back and 2 of the Celts that were going to come meet them left to the locker room early. Ryan was still around courtside and offered to come meet and talk with everyone.

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