Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Love Builds His Dream Starting NBA Lineup

I recently had the opportunity to talk to Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Love. Love took part in the Manhattan Beach Open on Thursday afternoon, which is part of the Jose Cuervo Beach Volleyball Series.

While I had the opportunity to talk to Love about his participation in the volleyball tournament, I was also able to talk to him about one of the things near and dear to both of our hearts. Basketball.

Ever wondered what fellow players NBA stars would love to play alongside?

I talked to Love about this very subject.

Love shared in the following slides which player he would most like to play alongside at each position (excluding power forward), comprising his personal "dream" starting lineup.

Enjoy.

Center: Dwight Howard

The center Kevin Love would most like to play alongside is Dwight Howard.  Howard is the best center in the league at the moment, having won the Defensive Player of the Year Award the last three seasons.

With Love and Howard cleaning the glass (they ranked one and two in rebounding last season, respectively), would the opposition ever get an offensive rebound? Not likely.

Small Forward: Kevin Durant

Kevin Love’s selection at small forward was Kevin Durant. Durant has won the league’s scoring title the last two seasons.

In addition to being arguably the league’s most dangerous scorer, one would be hard pressed to find a more humble superstar.

Durant and Love are not unfamiliar playing with one another. The two teamed up last summer at the FIBA World  Championships, helping lead Team USA to the gold medal for the first time since 1994.

Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant or LeBron James

When it came to choosing a shooting guard (although LeBron James isn’t a shooting guard by nature), Kevin Love couldn’t decide on one player.  Considering his choice was between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, do you blame him?

That’s like trying to pick between Batman and Superman, The Beatles and The Rollling Stones or chocolate chip cookie dough and mint chocolate chip ice cream.

I suppose the decision would ultimately come down to whether K-Love wanted to play with a younger superstar in the prime of his career, or a player, who despite being at the backend of his career, is still one of the game’s best players, in addition to being a proven champion.

Point Guard: Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook

Along with the power forward, the point guard position is the most loaded in the league. Therefore, it was tough for Kevin Love to pick just one PG.

Love ultimately narrowed his selection to Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook. “With all due respect to Chris Paul and Deron Williams,” said Love.

Derrick Rose is the reigning league MVP, and Russell Westbrook had a breakout season in 2010-11, being named to his first All-Star team and making the All-NBA Second Team.

Love has played alongside both Rose and Westbrook in the past. All three were teammates on Team USA’s gold medal winning squad at the World Championships last summer. Also, Love and Westbrook were collegiate teammates at UCLA.