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Timberwolves season inspiring youth basketball movement

For 14 straight years the team missed the NBA playoffs, but now with a core group of young players, there's a sense of optimism among basketball fans, especially younger fans.

MINNEAPOLIS - Saturday night the Minnesota Timberwolves won the franchise's first home playoff game since 2004.

For 14 straight years the team missed the NBA playoffs, but now with a core group of young players, there's a sense of optimism among basketball fans, especially younger fans.

Minnesota Youth Athletic Services has seen a lot of new players in recent years. Tournament organizers credit a lot of that growth to the recent success of the T-Wolves.

"We've seen a big explosion of new families getting involved," Jason Link says.

Link coaches his daughter's 5th grade travel basketball team in Wayzata.

He first started coaching basketball 10 years ago when his son first got interested in the sport.

"We've probably doubled the enrollment in our basketball program since then," Link says.

A travel basketball tournament this weekend featured more than 300 teams. Wayzata High School was one of seven schools that hosted games Saturday and Sunday.

However, a tournament next weekend is nearly twice as big, with 588 teams coming to the Twin Cities for a weekend of basketball.

"It's really cool," Red Wing freshman Dwight Wojcik says.

Wojcik and his team traveled to Wayzata all the way from Red Wing.

He first started playing basketball in 5th grade, but didn't get involved in travel teams until last year.

"Last year the wolves had three guys who were 20, who were scoring 20 points a game. It was really cool to see," Wojcik says.

He was only two years old the last time the Timberwolves played in the playoffs.

Derrick and Dominic Love were also toddlers when Kevin Garnett led the wolves deep into the 2004 NBA Playoffs.

"Next year they might win it all," Derrick says.

Not only are these brothers identical twins, but they both share identical dreams.

"Make it to college and play in the NBA," Dominic says.

Both brothers play for the Minnesota Knights out of St. Paul.

They've been involved in basketball for several years, but didn't really see themselves playing beyond high school until this year.

"We're going to work hard, hit the weight room, do what I gotta do," Derrick says.

They agree that Timberwolves players like Karl Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins have had a strong effect on their dreams.

However, they're most inspired by Timberwolves role player Derrick Rose.

"He was injured and played really badly, but he rebounded and he's doing great in the playoffs right now," Derrick says.

Coaches say the Minnesota Lynx are also inspiring more girls to give basketball a try.

20 years ago this weekend the Minnesota Lynx officially became a WNBA expansion team.

Since then the team has won 4 championships.

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