"Western Conference coaches on Thursday invited Timberwolves forward Kevin Love to his second NBA All-Star Game, one year after Commissioner David Stern named him as an injury replacement for his first.

"It definitely feels different," Love said on Thursday evening.

It feels different because his team has won more times in 24 games during this lockout-shortened season than it did in the first 48 games a year ago.

It feels different because he had an "inkling" coaches would select him and because he was invited Thursday morning to appear on TNT's announcement show hours later that night.

He'll also soon accept an offer to participate in All-Star weekend's three-point shooting contest.

A year ago, Love learned he was Los Angeles-bound when Kurt Rambis announced Stern's decision in the locker room before a game in Toronto. With NBA TV cameras rolling, Love said he expected actor Ashton Kutcher might burst into the room at any moment and tell him he had just been "punk'd."

"Last year was very emotional," Love said. "I remember getting on the phone with my dad and getting pretty emotional with him. We were up in Toronto and I was using some of my roaming minutes up there. My bill was pretty expensive."

This time, he knows he belongs.

"This year, I've settled into my position and my status in this league," he said. "I just want to keep working on my game and keep helping this team win. If I do that, everything else will come.""