Mavs' Matthews says he's cleared for everything but contact and full-speed drills

Wesley Matthews is still considered a long shot to suit up for his new team's season opener on Oct. 28, but the determined Dallas Mavericks shooting guard continues to make steady progress in his recovery from a torn Achilles.

With training camp underway, Matthews said Wednesday that he's been cleared for everything except "contact and the full, full-speed" drills, according to Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com. He added that he felt better in practice Wednesday than he did Tuesday, and that he's been doing three forms of cardio exercise a day.

Matthews suffered the injury in March before signing a four-year, $70-million free-agent deal with the Mavs in the summer. He's been steadfast in his belief that he'll be ready for the start of the regular season.

The notoriously dogged worker and self-proclaimed iron man, who scrapped his way from undrafted nobody to fringe star, has played every regular-season game in four of his six NBA campaigns. When asked why he was so determined to make it back for opening night, Matthews responded, "'Cause I don't miss games."

He acknowledged that the Mavs have their reasons for being prudent, given that they just invested four years and a considerable amount of money in him.

But, as he explains, "I just feel like the four years starts opening night."