LAS VEGAS (AP) — Alex Rodriguez was standing near his courtside seat, oblivious to a few fans who were snapping a quick photo of the baseball great as they walked by.
He was watching the Minnesota Timberwolves warm up instead.
Rodriguez — currently part of the Timberwolves’ ownership group, with plans in place for he and business partner Marc Lore to assume control from Glen Taylor and become primary owners next year — said Wednesday that he’s enjoying his transitions from baseball to basketball and from player to executive, and noted that he’s still learning.
“I mean, I come at it from a different perspective, being in baseball for about a quarter of a century, and now it’s interesting to take my experience from Major League Baseball, from broadcasting and now being here as an owner,” Rodriguez said in an interview with The Associated Press before watching Minnesota’s Summer League game in Las Vegas against Milwaukee. “It’s been great. The NBA has welcomed me with open arms.”
And the Wolves haven’t exactly been sitting around idly since Rodriguez and Lore started their ownership process.
Minnesota has been one of the biggest stories in the league this offseason, first by luring executive Tim Connelly away from the Denver Nuggets to take over as president of the Timberwolves. Then came the trade — acquiring Rudy Gobert from Utah for a slew of players and draft picks, a move that created perhaps the top frontline in the NBA with Gobert playing alongside Karl-Anthony Towns.
“It’s all about the fans in Minnesota. I think they deserve a winner,” Rodriguez said. “They deserve consistency, they deserve continuity. And I think across the board, we’ve seen that. … If you’re a fan, there’s a lot to cheer for. There’s a lot to be excited about. And I think when you can…