Love Joins USA Select Team

USA Basketball today announced that Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love has been chosen as one of the final two NBA players to join the 2008 USA Basketball Select Team. The 2008 USA Basketball Select Team, a team comprised of youthful NBA sensations, will help prepare the 2008 USA Men’s Senior National Team for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The select squad will begin training July 20 in Las Vegas and is expected to train and scrimmage against the USA Senior National Team from July 21-24.

Currently, Love is playing for the Timberwolves' entry in the 2008 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He earned the invite to the 2008 USA Basketball Select Team after stellar performances in the NBA Summer League. Love is averaging 20.7 points (45.1 FG%, seventh in the league), and a league-leading 15.0 rebounds in 30.3 minutes per game. Love, who has registered double-doubles in each of the Wolves' first three games, erupted for 26 points and 15 rebounds on July 17 vs. Portland.

As a freshman in 2007-08, Love, the Pac-10 Player of the Year, led UCLA in scoring (17.5 ppg) and rebounding (10.6 rpg), while leading the team to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. Love became only the second freshman in league history to be named Pac-10 Player of the Year. The consensus First Team All-American was a finalist for both the Naismith and Wooden Awards and was also named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, while earning an Honorable Mention selection for the league's All-Defensive Team. Love topped the 20-point mark in 11 games and posted 23 double-doubles on the season, while setting school freshman single-season records for points scored (681) and rebounds (415). A 6-10 forward, Love was the fifth overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies and was acquired by the Wolves in an eight-player trade on draft night.

Included among the original 10 players named to the USA Basketball Select Team on July 16 were: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City NBA); Jeff Green (Oklahoma City NBA); Luther Head (Houston Rockets); Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Kevin Martin (Sacramento Kings); O.J. Mayo (Memphis Grizzlies); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls) and Rodney Stuckey (Detroit Pistons). Today, along with Love, Robin Lopez (Phoenix Suns) was also named to the team to round out the 12-player squad.