MINNEAPOLIS – The NBA announced Wednesday that Kevin Love will become the first Timberwolves player in the history of the franchise to participate in the 3-point shooting contest at the All-Star Game.
Love, who was selected as a Western Conference reserve Thursday, will appear in his second All-Star Game this year. Commissioner David Stern selected Love in 2011 as a replacement for the injured Yao Ming.
The 23-year-old forward leads the Timberwolves with 44 3-pointers, which translates to 1.63 per game. That's good for 32nd in the league, and his 36.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc puts him at 57th. Last season, Love averaged 1.21 3-pointers per game but shot 41.7 percent from 3-point range. So though his percentage is down, Love is more confident in his 3-point shots this season, and for good reason. He tied his single-game career high of five 3-pointers twice this season -- against Dallas on Jan. 1 and against Houston on Jan. 23 -- and he's made three or more 3-pointers in a game six times.
Though the announcement became official Wednesday, Love said Tuesday that he was fairly certain he'd be participating. It showed. He spent extra time at the end of practice in a simulated 3-point contest, with teammate Brad Miller serving as ball boy. Love was far from perfect, but he has more than a week to practice.
"It'll be fun for me to be out there," Love said. "I always like my chances in any competition, really, except the slam dunk."
Love will compete against Miami's James Jones and Mario Chalmers, Orlando's Ryan Anderson, New Jersey's Anthony Morrow and Atlanta's Joe Johnson in the contest. Jones averages 0.79 3-pointers per game this season, shooting 40.4 percent, and his teammate Chalmers averages 2.0 and has shot 46.2 percent. Anderson is shooting 42.1 percent from beyond the 3-point arc and averages a league-best 2.86 3-pointers per game. Morrow is averaging 2.22 per game and shooting 42.0 percent, and Johnson averages 1.86 and is shooting 36.9 percent. Love has arguably the weakest numbers of any player in the competition, but he's not counting himself out.
"I'll just kick back and be the dark horse in the competition," he said.
The contest will take place at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 25.
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