Timberwolves' Kevin Love selected to second straight NBA All-Star Game
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Kevin Love is headed to the NBA All-Star Game for the second consecutive season.
The Minnesota Timberwolves forward was named Thursday as a reserve to the Western Conference squad for the Feb. 26 game at the Amway Center in Orlando.
The starters were named last Thursday based on fan balloting; coaches were in charge of picking seven reserves for the Eastern and Western Conference.
"It definitely feels different," Love said of this season's selection. "Last year I was picked by (NBA commissioner) David Stern as an injury replacement. Now coming out this year, our team playing better had a lot do with it.
"Last year I thought I was having a great year (and that) might have warranted a coach's decision but right now we playing better basketball. We are at .500, and I am still going out there and having a lot of success. My respect has come from the coaches, and I feel great about it."
In his fourth season with the Timberwolves, Love is averaging 25 points and 13.7 rebounds per game. He leads the league with 22 double-doubles, is fourth in scoring, second in rebounding and first with an average of 39.4 minutes played per game. He also is first with 175 free throws made.
Asked if he could be an All-Star starter at some point, Love said: "I definitely think so but for me I feel like guys like Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin are guys that I sign onto NBA.com to vote for. So, if that is the case than I think they will always make it.
"Everybody loves watching Blake play because he is a high-wire act, and Kevin Durant's game kind of speaks for itself. So those are guys that warrant starting positions for the West for many years to come but who is to say? I might sneak in a starting nod one year."
Love is also expected to participate in the 3-point competition on the Saturday before the All-Star game.
"I think I have a good shot at anything I do," Love said of his chances in the long shooting contest. "I am a pretty competitive guy, and I am going to go out there and I am going to try to win it."
Love has sat out the past two games after being suspended by the NBA for stepping on Luis Scola's head and chest last Saturday after the Houston Rockets forward had fallen to the court. Love will be eligible to return to the Wolves for Friday night's game against the Dallas Mavericks at Target Center.
Dana Wessel contributed.
