RealGM

MT: First of all, Al, you and Craig Smith are constantly messing with one another; you even have respective nicknames. Please explain.
Jefferson: Craig Smith watches a lot of movies and a lot of TV shows - and I do too - but I never thought I'd meet somebody who watches just as many movies or more movies than me. Craig is that guy. He could say a line from a movie that nobody (knows). Actually, he knows every line from every movie. I call him Big Dookie because of a movie from the early 90's called "House Party 3".

MT: Featuring Kid & Play?
Jefferson: For sure. There was a short line in there with this dude Big Dookie, and Craig was the only one that could remember that line when I said it in the locker room, so that's why I call him that.

MT: And he calls you...
Jefferson: Big Worm, from the guy on Friday, with Ice Cube and Chris Tucker and all that.

MT: Right. For those that don't get to see you and your teammates interact off the court...
Jefferson: It's been real fun. The locker room is live. I heard a couple of vets say that we make them feel young again. We're always talking and having a good time. Laughing. It's been a long season, a rough season, so you can't be serious all the time. There's a time to have fun, put a little life in the locker room, and a time to get serious and ready to play. We make the best of it.

MT: Who's the funniest guy on the squad?
Jefferson: (laughs) Everybody is funny in their own way. Everybody could be a different person on a different day ... Chris (Richard), Big Dukie, Bassy (Telfair), 'Toine (Antoine Walker), Buck (Greg Buckner), Mad Dog...

MT: Well, I was going to ask you who's funnier: Your favorite actor Eddie Murphy, or Mad Dog?
Jefferson: I have to go with Eddie Murphy, but Mad Dog is crazy. He'll surprise you. He'll say something and you're like 'Wow, that's Mad Dog!' Every time someone makes a joke on him, he can reverse it. Every time.

MT: How many times has Dog mentioned his two championship rings to close an argument?
Jefferson: Oh man. (Thinking). I've heard it probably, 25 to 40 ... thousand times.

MT: Basically, any time you start with him on something, and he doesn't have a comeback, it's ring time.
Jefferson: Yes. But he's got something a lot of people don't have.

MT: No doubt about that. But be honest with us ... You can't take Mad Dog 1-on-1.
Jefferson: I am really scared of Mad Dog 1-on-1. I wouldn't want to play Mad Dog if I had to. Now, we've played, but ... I'm very scared of Mad Dog 1-on-1.

MT: Got it. Now, on a different note, can you talk about your growing relationship with the fans here in Minnesota?
Jefferson: When we played Boston here and they had that standing ovation for Kevin Garnett, and then they called starting lineup for us, it kind of looked like they were showing Kevin Garnett that they appreciated everything he did here. But they also showed me so much love. Like, 'OK, we thank you Garnett, but here is our new leader, and we have his back too.' That made me feel really good, knowing how they cheered for me and represented me too. I love the fans here, and I'm glad that the fans are patient and understand that this season is one that we're not looking to have again. It's a learning process. We have to work really hard and get the fans what they want and get us back to the playoffs.