Most of us have gotten over the glory years of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Yes, it was a fun time when Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell, and Sam Cassell owned the town. Games were packed, ESPN and TNT covered the team on a regular basis, and the cover of Sports Illustrated boasted the Big 3. Fun to remember but long gone. As the Wolves are going through a total overhaul I think we all understand that the number in the W column will be pretty low this year. But, if you're looking for a reason why you should push through another rebuilding year for the Wolves look no further than Big Al Jefferson.
Al Jefferson came to Minnesota under difficult circumstances. He knew and understood that Kevin Garnett owned this town for a long time before anyone had ever heard of Al Jefferson. Al knew that he essentially would be trying to fill the large void K.G. left not only in the Wolves but in this state. Al did the move that you don't often see. He didn't put a spin on it, he faced it and dealt with it. He praised K.G. for what he had done in this state and for the great player he was and then he told everyone who Al Jefferson was.
Al Jefferson is an old soul, with a work ethic very similar to the Big Ticket. His low post game not common in big men of his generation is a throwback from the Kevin McHale era. Like Garnett, Al leads by example rather than from an outgoing or outspoken personality. He moved away from his downtown digs to buy a home in a surrounding suburb so as he told me a few years ago "he could really embed himself in the community." He is extremely humble and polite and I had to ask him on more than one occasion to please not call me ma'am any more. Most importantly, Al got to work on the court and has been the backbone of this team from his first day in Target Center.
Last February when Big Al tore his ACL in his right knee, it devastated the season, coaches, players, and fans. What would come of a Timberwolves team without an anchor? While we all fretted over what the future would be and if Big Al would ever be the same, Al quietly went to work on rehabbing the knee. Using his teammate Corey Brewer, who was recovering from his own knee injury as inspiration, Al pushed through the quiet, lonely times of rehab to get himself ready for this season.
Eight months later Al has declared himself ready to play in tonight's home opener against the New Jersey Nets. If his body will allow, Al will get a double-double, instill confidence in his team, and try once again to become an All Star on a team that won't be on the national radar. So there it is the reason you should tune in, or stop down to Target Center: to see #25, Big Al Jefferson, He is holding court there now.