Last season was tough in Wally's world. Minnesota Timberwolves' 6-foot-7 forward Wally Szczerbiak missed the first 53 games because of a painful heel spur, then returned to find himself in an unfamiliar position-the sixth man. Injuries hampered him again during the playoffs, when he cracked three vertebrae. The former All-Star, with a shooting touch as dead-on as any in the league, posted the weakest stats of his career: 10 points per game, 45 percent shooting.

Disappointed but motivated, the 27-year-old Szczerbiak spent last summer reinventing himself physically. He put on 10 pounds of lean muscle, and, by fall, had regained his spot in the starting five. We caught up with him in November, as the 2004-05 NBA season began. At the time, he was averaging more than 13 points per game on 50 percent shooting. Here's a glimpse into Wally's new world.

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