[外電] Foye to make all-star trip
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16701162.htm
Timberwolves superstar Kevin Garnett has enjoyed VIP status at the NBA
All-Star Game for the past decade. But his traveling companion to Las Vegas
this weekend gets to peek behind the velvet rope for the first time.
Rookie guard Randy Foye was selected to play in the Rookie Challenge game in
the Saturday night prelude to Sunday's 56th midwinter classic.
Foye returns to the Thomas & Mack Center on the University of Nevada-Las
Vegas campus, where he enjoyed a coming-out party of sorts last summer. Foye
averaged 24.8 points in five games playing for the Wolves in July, earning
most valuable player honors in the Vegas Summer League.
"I'm excited to be out there," Foye said. "No. 1, I'm going to be out there
with K.G. representing not only the Timberwolves but the city of Minneapolis.
So we're just looking forward to going out there and representing the city
well."
Foye, whom Minnesota acquired in a draft night trade, started his second
consecutive game at point guard Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets
after elbowing out veteran Mike James.
Coach Randy Wittman hopes Foye comes back a better player through osmosis.
"It should be good for him. Just enjoy it. The first time's pretty
overwhelming to see the show they put on. Being in Vegas is an added …
situation," Wittman said. "I want him have fun and take it in. Have an
understanding of what the demands are of trying to get where Kevin is and the
other all stars."
Garnett is making his 10th all-star appearance and eighth start for the
Western Conference.
Urgency back from the break: The Wolves have four days off before reconvening
for practice Monday. They resume play Tuesday at Washington before opening a
five-game homestand in a stretch that includes six of seven at Target Center.
The Wolves are 16-9 at home after beating Denver on Wednesday, so it is a
pivotal time for them to make hay if they hope to scratch out a playoff berth
during the 30-game stretch drive.
"It is, but we know that everybody's able to win on the road," guard Marko
Jaric said. "If we think the victories are just going to come by themselves,
we won't even be able to talk about the playoffs."
Soul man: Denver coach George Karl was asked whether the league's first foray
into Las Vegas for the all-star exhibition justifies putting a franchise in
Sin City.
"My personal thing is rebuilding the soul of basketball is more important
than making money. I think the league is into making money, and (Commissioner
David) Stern has done an incredible job in that area, from 1980 to now. He's
a fantastic businessman," Karl said.
"But as I get older and see the game and see the product, I'd like to see
more focus on developing players and on the soul of the game — the
fundamentals — and helping the game of basketball prosper and kind of thank
the game for what it's given us."
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