Le Basketbawl

As much grief as New York Vinnie gives the Minnesota Timberwolves I have always said that they have a Frickin superstar in the making in their center Al Jefferson. He was the lynch-pin for the T-Wolves trading Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics two years ago. Jefferson was one of the few Frickin highlights of a pretty low year in Minnesota last season as he averaged 23.1 points, 11 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Unfortunately the big man tore the ACL in his right knee and he had season ending surgery in February.

Jefferson not only has skills but he has smarts also; he lost 31 pounds in the off-season so there would be less weight for his recuperating knee to have to carry. Jefferson told the “Associated Press”  that he can feel the difference out on the court during the team’s early workout sessions. The center said “It felt real good. It’s more about my lungs than anything. My knee felt great. Felt good to be back out here with the team.”

Jefferson was informed that the T-Wolves are putting more of a run oriented offense than they have used in the past so he knew he had to drop the pounds. He told reporters “We want to run this year. They made that clear. When David Kahn came, he said that’s what he wants to do. When Kurt came, he said that’s what he wants to do. So I was like, ‘I better get with it or I might be benched.’ I know they’re not going to wait for me to get down there to post up. So I better get this weight off so they don’t leave me down there.”

That is the kind of attitude that seperates the great from the good.  Al Jefferson will be one of the keys in what ever success the Minnesota Timberwolves will have in the next few years.