The following is an excerpt from today’s edition of The Bounce, The Athletic’s daily NBA newsletter. Sign up for The Bounce here.
Karl-Anthony Towns helped save the Timberwolves from a lifetime of embarrassment. I know that might seem ridiculous to people who have looked at him as a failure for not becoming the next Kevin Garnett. The fact is, though, Towns’ arrival in 2015 was the start of the Wolves finally getting away from being a punchline and becoming a mostly respected team.
His early stardom and skill set helped attract people like Tom Thibodeau, which also led to Jimmy Butler’s acquisition. That tandem wasn’t perfect and ended with a lot of drama, but it also snapped the Wolves’ 14-year playoff drought in 2018.
Towns’ leadership was shaky over the years, but he figured it out by the time Anthony Edwards started becoming a star. He never let ego get in the way, likely due to his experience with Butler. He passed the torch while contributing to arguably the most successful season the franchise ever had. It’s why the trade this past September was a shock, a financial move disguised as a basketball decision.
The 29-year-old ranks second in franchise history in points, rebounds and blocks — all behind KG. He’s also fourth in assists and steals. And he has the most 3-pointers in team history. He’ll be welcomed with great appreciation when the Knicks visit the Target Center tonight. And that’s exactly how it should be.
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Let’s pick NBA All-Star starters! Plus, Bodega KAT returns to Minnesota tonight!
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