Is This The Year For Big Al?

“Big Al” Jefferson has had quite the career so far. He has gone from a mid 1st round pick to a go to guy (when Pierce was injured) in his three years on the Celtics. After his breakthrough third season, Jefferson was the main piece sent to Minnesota in return for Kevin Garnett, one of the top Power Forwards of all time. Immediately the best player on the team when he stepped on the floor, Big Al has put up some great numbers the past two years. Both years he had the type of stats that would usually put a player into the NBA’s All Star Weekend, where the best of the best duke it out for a pretty trophy. However, Al hasn’t been graced with as many votes as he has needed to get in with Shaquille O’Neal edging him out last season. Now that Shaq is back in the East with the Cavaliers, there are many rumblings that Minnesota may have their first All-Star since KG.

That’s right, Big Al is a favorite to get into the All-Star game as one of the team’s centers. If Yao Ming is still out at the All-Star Game (he shouldn’t be back before the playoffs at best), Big Al may even be the fan’s choice to start the game. This would make him only the 2nd Wolves player to EVER start in an All Star game. Quite the accomplishment if he can recover from his injury last season at 100%.

Big Al’s main competition for the spot: Andrew Bynum, Mehmet Okur, Andris Biedrins and Emeka Okafor. All of which out-voted Jefferson last season.

Should be fun to see how this plays out. I am sure if Big Al plays as well as he did last season he will get enough recognition around the league if not to get the starting spot, at least be put on the team as a backup. Should be another fun thing to watch for this season.