The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Sports

August 5, 2009

Timberwolves to play in Mankato

Wolves will play Bucks on Oct. 5

By Chad Courrier

MANKATO — Minnesota Timberwolves president Chris Wright said that the NBA franchise has a great relationship with Mankato and Minnesota State University, and he’s always looking for way to enhance those partnerships.

Wright said the team will again hold its training camp in Mankato, arriving in town on Sept. 28 with the first practice the next day. To wrap up camp, on Oct. 5, the Timberwolves will host their first preseason game at Minnesota State, taking on the Milwaukee Bucks in Taylor Center, the building that holds owner Glen Taylor’s name.

“We know what that market means to Glen,” Wright said. “He loves having his players and his staff in his market. He loves being around training camp. It’s usually a really good time.”

The Timberwolves, who will play eight preseason games, also played exhibition games at Minnesota State in 1996 and 2001. The team has held training camp here in 2006 and 2008.

Wright said the franchise has had a “phenominal” relationship with Minnesota State, especially the sports marketing department, hiring 30 interns to work for the Timberwolves and WNBA’s Lynx in the last 14 years.

Wright said that the team tried to increase its visibility in the communtiy last fall through autograph-signings, visits to schools and hospitals and working with local charities.

“This is a way to positively grow the relationship with the community,” he said.

He said that there should be plenty of interest in the team, given the new faces of David Kahn, the president of basketball operations, and the new coach, which is expected to be named soon. There will also be a revamped roster with rookies Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington, and possibly Ricky Rubio.

“I think everybody will be ready to take a look at the new version of the Timberwolves,” he said.

The preseason game will replace the intrasquad scrimmage that’s wrapped up the previous two training camps. The scrimmage was free; the preseason game will not be free.

“We’ve always been really well supported there, whether it’s a scrimmage or preseason game,” Wright said. “It’s always been a real good experience.”

Taylor, who was in New York for NBA meetings, was unavailable to comment Wednesday.

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