Minneapolis-St. Paul – The Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation, in partnership with U.S. Bank and Rebuilding Together Twin Cities, unveiled a newly refurbished outdoor basketball court at the Mt. Airy Boys & Girls Club in Saint Paul, with Timberwolves Guard Tyus Jones and Assistant Coach Ed Pinckney on-hand to break-in the new court.

“While NBA players eventually take their game into an arena, their love of basketball is fostered growing up playing on courts in their community,” said John Thomas, Vice President of Community Engagement for the Minnesota Timberwolves. “We’re honored to have the opportunity alongside U.S. Bank to give back to the communities that support us. Just as I grew up playing on Minnesota courts, we hope this refurbishment of the Mt. Airy Boys & Girls Club court will help to grow the game of basketball and provide an opportunity for more kids to get outside and play.”

The Timberwolves ‘New Era. New Courts.’ program aims to help neighborhoods take their love of basketball outdoors and to serve as a reminder of how important outdoor courts are for young basketball players. Following the ribbon cutting, Jones and Pinckney spent time on the court with local area youth.

The court at the Mt. Airy Boys & Girls Club is located just north of downtown and serves an average of 150 kids, ages 5 to 18, every day. Working with Rebuilding Together Twin Cities, a community revitalization partner, volunteers from U.S. Bank spent two days sealing and painting the court and installing new posts, backboards and hoops. The courts were finished off with the Timberwolves new logo painted at center court, replicating the look and feel of courts used by the pros.

“We believe in the power of play to connect and enrich our communities,” said Phillip Trier, U.S. Bank Twin Cities Market President. “We are excited to partner with the Timberwolves and the community to provide kids the opportunity to learn, grow and make lasting memories on this revitalized court.”

The Mt. Airy Boys & Girls Club court refurbishment wraps up the ‘New Era. New Courts.’ Program for 2017, with courts refurbished in Rochester and Moorhead in recent weeks. Winning courts were decided through online voting by more than 7,000 fans and community members. Read more about the ‘New Era. New Courts.’ program here: http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/neweranewcourts.

This community program is the latest in a series of announcements tied to the new era of Timberwolves basketball. With new leadership on the court and in the boardroom, the franchise is poised for more significant changes in the coming months towards being champions on the court, having world-class facilities and staff, and growing the game of basketball. Target Center’s renovation project, complete with new premium spaces, seating and concourse improvements, will hit the finish line in time for the beginning of the 2017-18 season. There are several exciting announcements slated for the very near future, including additional news on continued improvement in the areas of technology, enhanced community involvement, and additional partners and upgrades to amplify business operations and improve the fan experience and fan engagement. The franchise will also enter its first season with the NBA G League’s Iowa Wolves for the 2017-18 season.

About U.S. Bank
Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp, with $464 billion in assets as of June 30, 2017, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States. The company operates 3,088 banking offices in 25 states and 4,826 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.

Contact Information: Kirsten Wenker, Kirsten.Wenker@timberwolves.com, 612-673-8419