All-Star Game

By Jason Yellin
ESPNET SportsZone

CLEVELAND -- To many NBA observers the Timberwolves and Bulls are about as far apart in the basketball spectrum as any two teams can be.

The Bulls have won four NBA titles in six years. The eight-year-old T-wolves have never won more than 29 games, let alone qualify for the NBA playoffs. In that eight-year span Chicago has had 12 All-Stars. Minnesota -- none. Last season, the Bulls won 72 games, five more than Minnesota has won in the last three seasons combined.

But this year, the T-wolves are changing their side of the equation.

The Bulls and Wolves have the same number of All-Stars: Two. Minnesota is vying for its first playoff spot ever. The Wolves are just two games below .500 (23-25) and won 20 games prior to the All-Star Break for the first time ever.

"Minnesota has progressed very well," said Chicago's 11-time All-Star Michael Jordan. "They have some very talented players that are very deserving of being on the All-Star Team."

Jordan's teammate on the East All-Star team is his proverbial side-kick Scottie Pippen.

In Minnesota, it's Kevin Garnett, who is making the All-Star Game in his second NBA season and Tom Gugliotta, a reclamation project. The 27-year-old Gugliotta is a guy nobody seemed to want in the 1994-95 season, when he played for three NBA teams.

"Garnett and Gugliotta really deserve it. You can see they are a team of tomorrow," Jordan said of the T-Wolves. "You have to give Kevin credit he's done an incredible job up there. You had better be aware of them in the coming years."

"I'm proud of Tom and Kevin," said Minnesota's vice president Kevin McHale, who played on three Celtics championship teams. "They are as tough as, if not the toughest forward combination to match up against in the league because of their size and athleticism. If they are not the best tandem in the league, they are going to be."

McHale isn't the only one impressed with his young duo. In fact, by both being named to the All-Star team, they've outdone the combinations of Vin Baker and Glenn Robinson in Milwaukee and Washington's Chris Webber and Juwan Howard.

"I think we compare pretty well against them," Gugliotta said. "It's fun because when we go into games when the match-ups are like that, we certainly have extra incentive, because we want to show guys that we work well together."

Young wolf

Last week, when McHale told him he'd made the West team as Clyde Drexler's replacement, Garnett cried.

"Oh my goodness, if you told me that I would be playing in the All-Star Game in my second year, I probably would have laughed at you," said Garnett. "Now just being here with the guys that I admire and look up to is overwhelming."

The former Teenwolf is the second youngest player to appear in an All-Star Game (20 years, 8 months, 21 days) behind Magic Johnson (20 years, 5 months and 21 days). Garnett is seventh in the NBA in blocked shots (2.52) and is netting 16.5 points per game to go along with 8.1 rebounds. But his reputation has been built on intangibles.

"Kevin is the man," said Shawn Kemp, who has spent a lot of time talking to Garnett this weekend. "He reminds me a lot of myself. He is a determined young kid who has worked on his game and has gotten better and better."

Gugliotta, now in his second full season with the Wolves, has flourished with Garnett at his side.

The former first-round draft pick of the Bullets is experiencing a breakthrough year. He is ninth in the league in scoring (22.4), while averaging 9.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

"Gugliotta has gotten better since he came into the league," said Kemp. "He has gotten more aggressive. He is smarter ... (The Timberwolves) have got a great future."

Being a first-time All-Star has been very exciting for the native Long Islander, who sees a very bright future in Minnesota.

"I am very proud of being here with Kevin," Gugliotta said. "We are very young. We are understanding that we can be a playoff team. And once we get that experience and go a few rounds, and get some more veterans and get respect around the league, then maybe in three or four years we can be in the championship situation."

Two trades have played a major role in Gugliotta's growth in Minnesota. His own trade from Golden State to Minnesota and the Wolves trade with the Hawks that sent Christian Laettner to Atlanta.

"We needed a change," Gugliotta said. "The situation worked out well for both of us with the trade of Christian. I'm happy he's here and that each of us are having good seasons. As for Golden State, I don't know what happened there, I guess a lot of people needed to leave."

Garnett appreciates his senior partner and knows Gugliotta's All-Star campaign aided his own.

"I think that his level has risen to a level that has instilled in us to go out and compete at a high level every night," Garnett said. "That comes with winning and we continue to gel. I think Minnesota is the future."

As for the Bulls and Wolves being equal with in the number of All-Stars Gugliotta and Garnett are honored.

"I think it says a lot about our team," Gugliotta said. "We are earning respect within this league. We have come a long way and we are contending for a playoff spot."