Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love has been named to the 2012 Western Conference All-Star team, the National Basketball Association announced today. Love was named to the team via a balloting by NBA head coaches. The 2012 NBA All-Star Game will be played at Amway Center in Orlando on Sunday, Feb. 26.

The honor is the second of Love's career as he made his first appearance in last year's game. Love is the second player in franchise history to make more than one All-Star Game appearance, joining Kevin Garnett (10 appearances). Tom Gugliotta, Wally Szczerbiak and Sam Cassell all made one appearance as a Timberwolves player. Love recorded two points and four rebounds in 12 minutes during the 2011 NBA All-Star Game at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

"I'm excited to be playing in the All-Star Game again and proud to be representing the Timberwolves organization at this premier event," Love said. "I'm thankful to the NBA head coaches for voting me in, as well as to all the great Wolves fans that have been behind me and my teammates all season long."

Love, the 2011-12 NBA leader in double-doubles with 22, ranks second in rebounding (13.7 rpg), fourth in scoring (25.0 ppg), first in free throw made (175) and first in minutes (39.4 mpg). He has tallied 30+ points seven times this season. Love has recorded seven 30-point/10-rebound games this season; no other player has more than four such games. He has notched 19 20-point/10-rebound games this season -- 10 more than the next highest total.

Love scored a season-high 39 points and added 12 rebounds vs. Houston on Jan. 23. He sank the game-winning three-pointer as time expired in the Wolves' 101-98 win at the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 20. Love started the season with eight-straight games of 20+ points and 12+ rebounds, the longest streak to start a season in the NBA since Kareem Adbul-Jabbars 10 consecutive to start the 1975-76 season.

Wolves fans can celebrate Kevin Love being named to play in his second All-Star Game by taking advantage of a special ticket offer. Fans can buy an upper level ticket for the Feb. 10 game vs. Dallas and receive a FREE ticket to the Feb. 15 game vs. Charlotte. To purchase tickets, call the Kevin Love hotline at 612-673-1640. Offer expires Feb. 10 at 3:00 p.m.

Contact information:

Mike Cristaldi, Minnesota Timberwolves, (612) 673-8405, cristaldi@timberwolves.com

Aaron Seehusen, Minnesota Timberwolves, (612) 673-1602, seehusen@timberwolves.com

Dan Bell, Minnesota Timberwolves, (612) 673-1603, bell@timberwolves.com

###