Kevin Garnett appreciates how difficult it has been earning his nine all-star appearances in his 11-year career.

In 1997 at Cleveland, during his first NBA all-star weekend, Garnett watched in awe as Michael Jordan walked into a room and drew media members away from the other all-stars. This weekend, as Garnett pushes forward still searching for a championship ring, he refused to call this season the most difficult he has had to endure, and he relished his individual accomplishments.

"This is nine, and doing nine in anything is difficult," he told a group of media members covering all-star weekend, which culminates with tonight's game at the Toyota Center.

Time isn't on his side anymore. Garnett is an All-Star Game reserve, the first time in six years fans didn't vote him in as a starter. And his Timberwolves team is in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the second straight season, which fuels speculation that Garnett surely must want to find a new home where he can win a championship.

He remains firm, though, in his stance that he's loyal to the Wolves.

"I'm not the one to give up just because something's rough," he said. "That's a coward. That's not even me. I'm in it for the long haul."