Timberwolves Use Album To Push Pekovic To All-Star Game Reserves
By Sarita Kelly
First the Minnesota Timberwolves used social media to push Kevin Love to the All-Star Game and it worked. Now the Wolves are trying to persuade conference coaches with an album to push Nikola Pekovic to the All-Star Game as well.
The Wolves have started a new campaign to get their big center into his first All-Star Game. Minnesota sent out a vinyl album featuring the “Bruise Brothers,” which is the nickname for the duo of Pekovic and Kevin Love.
Jan 18, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic (14) drives to the basket past Utah Jazz center Derrick Favors (15) in the second half at Target Center. The Timberwolves won 98-72. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
The album cover features an artist’s rendering of Pekovic and Love dressed as the famed Blues Brothers and labeled “All-Star Edition.” Some songs on Pekovic’s side of the album include “It was only a Pek” and “I’m Still Learning English” and another is written in Serbian and is roughly translated to read “Meat is the Best.”
The vinyl album also includes a poster that touts many of Pekovic’s accomplishments – he leads the league in second-chance points and points in the paint – and touts he and Love as one of the NBA’s “best duets.” And to top it off the Wolves included a letter from President Flip Saunders.
Conference coaches vote on the reserves for the game, which will be played in New Orleans on February 16th. After signing a five-year, $60 million contract this summer, Pekovic is averaging a career-high 18.4 points and 9.3 rebounds this season. He’s been even better over the past six weeks, averaging 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds while topping 30 points in a game three times.
“The fans of the NBA have already spoken and voted Kevin Love into the game as a starter,” Saunders wrote. “What is happening without much fanfare, though, is the emergence of Nikola Pekovic as one of the top centers in the NBA.”
When Love upset Houston center Dwight Howard to earn a starting nod, it might have made Pekovic’s prospects a little tougher. The West is loaded with talent this season, and big men like Howard, DeAndre Jordan from the Clippers, DeMarcus Cousins of the Kings and Anthony Davis of New Orleans all figure to garner interest as well.
“I would love to bring Pek with me,” Love said last week after he was voted a starter. “And if he doesn’t make the game maybe he can be my bodyguard down there.”