Minnesota's Flip Saunders wasn't particularly crestfallen about not coaching the West's All-Star team after just missing out because Don Nelson's Mavericks have a slightly better record. The main difficulty for an All-Star coach is disbursing minutes fairly among the great players. "You don't want to get any of those guys mad at you,'' Saunders explained, "for the second half of the season." ... Only three NBA players have averaged at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists during their first three seasons: Grant Hill, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson. Houston's Steve Francis didn't deserve the starting spot over Gary Payton for the West's All-Star team. However, Francis will likely join the aforementioned elite company following this season, which shows that the Rockets guard is destined for stardom.

Now we know why Bonzi Wells doesn't go by his real first name. The full name of the Blazers swingman is Gawan Deangelo Wells. Gawan. Bonzi. Gawan. Bonzi. Close call. ... The Mavericks have increased their stable of assistants to 13. The latest addition is Sary Benzvi, hired to work exclusively with forward Wang Zhizhi, the first Chinese player in NBA history. Benzvi is of Chinese descent. ... Ever thought you'd see the day that Vin Baker was more of a low-post threat than Rasheed Wallace? Wallace leads the Blazers in three-pointers made and attempted. But the irascible forward is shooting a career-low 45.5 percent entering the weekend.

Sam Cassell look-alike: Rams wide receiver Torry Holt. Then again, some people have said Cassell's head resembles E.T.'s, so we're not sure Holt would be pleased with the comparison. ... The NBA's new $4.5 billion television deal (for six years) makes ESPN the first network with broadcast rights to all four major sports. With NBC giving up rights to the NBA, the network is now without major-league baseball, the NFL and the NBA. Maybe NBC will find the next Tonya Harding to boost its Olympics ratings.

Amid speculation that the Orlando Magic will relocate, Coach Doc Rivers said: "I'll go on record as saying if this team moves to Afghanistan, I won't be going. We'll let Geraldo coach the team." ... The most audacious NBA book published recently is Isiah Thomas' "It's fundamentals: Eight plays for winning the game of business." Thomas was blamed for buying the CBA and driving it into bankruptcy last year before it returned in smaller version.