Frustrated forward Nikoloz Tskitishvili is still waiting to make his debut with the Timberwolves. He's been on the inactive list for all but one of the first six games.

His status is unlikely to change any time soon.

Tskitishvili is behind reserve forward Eddie Griffin on the depth chart. Coach Dwane Casey said he wants the 22-year-old from the Republic of Georgia to be patient. But Tskitishvili, the fifth overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft, is running out of tolerance because this is his fourth year in the league.

Sunday night, he returned to Denver, his first NBA city, but was inactive. Tskitishvili voiced his frustration to the Denver Post, saying of Casey, "He told me so honestly that he was going to play me, that this is going to be my year."

That quote prompted Casey to talk with Tskitishvili on Monday morning.

"I never told him he was going to be handed the position," Casey said after practice. "I told him when he signed here, there was going to be an opportunity to play, and it was going to be up to him to take it."

Tskitishvili said the quote in the Denver paper incorrectly implied that Casey misled the forward. He said he was not upset with Casey or vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale and that he appreciates the opportunity they gave him to sign with the Wolves.

Tskitishvili signed a two-year contract, with the Wolves holding a team option for the second year of the deal. He said he still thinks the Wolves are a good fit.

"I don't blame nobody except myself," he said. "I don't want to say I don't work hard, because I have been busting my (behind). I'm just wondering why it's not coming yet. Every day I think, 'I work hard, I have the talent.' It's not coming right now. But I have big hopes that one day it will come. I think the best way to make it come is to play and get experience."