HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love is in Los Angeles for his first All-Star game as a player, yet with a father who played in the NBA he knows his history. He also has favorite memories from the NBA’s special weekend that remind he is only 22 years old.

"I think a lot of people have mentioned 2000, just all the festivities," said Love. "That was the Slam Dunk competition when Vince Carter came out and did the between the legs, stuck his arm in the rim, did the reverse 360, so watching that, that just made me in awe of the whole plethora of things that happen in All-Star weekend. That was definitely one of them."

Love’s statistics brought him to Los Angeles, as his averages of 21.1 points and a league-leading 15.5 rebounds are astounding. Love had a career-year in the 2009-10 season, albeit a turbulent one, but Love knew there was still work to do on his game as well as his confidence on the NBA court.

"A lot of it is the hard work I’ve put in the past couple off-seasons and figuring out my spots on the floor in the NBA, but also a lot of it was confidence and opportunity. The confidence comes through that hard work and proving myself on a scale with some of the best players in the world with the World Championship team, but also the opportunity came for me with Al Jefferson going to Utah and opening up a lot of time for me as a starting power forward in this league."

The Minnesota Timberwolves are only 13-43 at the All-Star break, causing the debate to heat up as to whether or not players from bad teams should receive a nod for the All-Star team. Knowing the heat behind the debate, Love makes a strong case for players such as himself.

"You know, an All-Star doesn’t have to come from a team with a winning record because guys are going out every night, being consistent, putting up great numbers and, in my case, we have been playing pretty good basketball," said Love. "I mentioned us being around 3-13 in games decided by five points or less. I think, more than anything, that just kind of shows our youth and from that we obviously need to become a better team. I think certain guys, for example a guy like Monta Ellis too, I think he’s right up there with guys that are the first guys you’re looking at in a scouting report and also, walking through certain stuff that another team is doing. That’s what you’re focusing your whole defense."

A name not thrown around lightly is that of Moses Malone, yet throughout the year Malone’s name surrounds Minnesota’s third-year player. After all, Love had that amazing 30-point, 30-rebound game against the New York Knicks earlier this season, becoming the first player since Malone to accomplish such a feat since 1982, which was years before Love’s birth.

"My dad gave me a bunch of highlights of Moses Malone," said Love. "My dad used to say in high school and college—and even sometimes today—he goes, ‘Sometimes, if you don’t have a good shot when you’re close to the basket, throw it up there and just go get it back and try to tip it in.’ A lot of that is kind of what Moses used to do. It’s never about padding stats. It’s just about getting closer to the rim and using angles. I know a lot about Moses because the comparison has been made similar to our stats. The 30-30 game and certain things like that, so I would say out of anybody this weekend I’m definitely looking forward to meeting him."

{AUTHOR_BOX}Only a day away from suiting up for his first All-Star appearance, that youthful excitement takes over. He knows he earned his right to play, but as someone who grew up surrounded by basketball history, Sunday’s game will hold a great significance to him.

"I’m looking forward to playing with Tim Duncan, a guy that I’ve looked up to for so long, but also playing with a college teammate of mine in Russell Westbrook," said Love. "Kevin Durant, I was on the world championship team with. Kobe Bryant. I mean, I could run down the whole list for you."

While Love’s head may be on a swivel, looking for his opportunity to meet Malone and taking in all he can, his mind remains back at home with his fans in Minneapolis. Times have been rough for Minnesota Timberwolves fans in the past few years, but Love receiving recognition as an All-Star gives a bit of hope for the future.

"It’s great for the Twin Cities, it’s great for the state of Minnesota to have not only Wes (Johnson), but myself participating in All-Star weekend," said Love. "To have an All-Star out here and the first one since Kevin Garnett, I think it’s great for the organization overall. Eventually, our record will get better, our team will get better, but for now, there are certain positives that we look into and look forward to."

If his Minnesota Timberwolves can improve as he expects and demands, Love will become a regular at All-Star weekend.