NBA, former UCLA star Kevin Love tries a day at the beach

In a summer of NBA lockout uncertainty, Kevin Love is choosing to play somewhere different as well — a few steps south of the Manhattan Beach pier.

The Minnesota Timberwolves forward will be there later this week, trying to break ground in a sunnier, sandier corner of the sports world at the Manhattan Beach Open.

At 6 feet 10, he might be the tallest player in the beach volleyball tournament, but his experience is limited. He never played volleyball in high school or at UCLA, meaning the last few weeks have been his first in the sport.

"To try and cross over in any sport, especially in a small amount of time, you don't realize how tough it is," Love said Sunday. "Getting in the sand, getting that ball hit at you with all the topspin they put on it, my respect for all the players went through the roof."

Despite its laid-back reputation as a bunch of dudes from the dunes, beach volleyball isn't as easy as it appears.

Shaquille O'Neal looked foolish and immobile when he tried it a few years ago for his short-lived TV show. O'Neal partnered with Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Todd Rogers but lost to two-time women's gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor.

Love looked infinitely more mobile than O'Neal in recent practice sessions and pounded the ball down numerous times. He must, however, improve his passing, or "bumping," skills. He knows it.

"I have the timing down with the hitting and my setting's pretty good. My blocking's decent just because it's like playing at the rim in the NBA, but my passing and my serving are subpar," he said. "I'm going to get out there a couple more times during the week and try to get it done."

Love was recently on an NBA-themed beach volleyball team at a popular six-on-six amateur tournament in Manhattan Beach. Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar and Richard Jefferson were also on the team, but most of the volleyball was played by former pro beach players.

This weekend's tournament will be a two-on-two format, providing less room for error. The court looks much larger with only two people on it.

"It's just a matter of whether he can use his height to his advantage," said Eric Fonoimoana, a gold medalist in beach volleyball at the 2000 Olympics. "Obviously, it's going to be tough to get the ball by him at the net, but the skill set is completely different when you get on that sand. You're never balanced because of the sand. And then let's throw in some wind."