This story of Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Davis begins with the NBA's most recent dynasty. When the Golden State Warriors took the NBA by storm, no one envisioned the collateral damage and ripple effects. The NBA became obsessed with three-point shooting and analytics. Teams wanted players who could defend the entire floor from guards to big men. Ang big men? They were deemed useless if they couldn't run the floor and most importantly, shoot threes.
Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns entered the league and the inception and apex of this movement. Both players can do big man things on the floor and stretch it, too. However, Davis has morphed into the leagues most dominant two-way big man. He can score, shoot, and defend better than Towns.
But this isn't to say Towns is a slouch by any means. For his career, KAT is averaging 22.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. He's also a career 53.5 percent shooter from the floor while connecting on 39.8 percent from deep.
From a numbers standpoint, KAT isn't far behind from Davis. Davis is averaging 23.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. He's a career 51.6 percent shooter while connecting on 31.7 percent from three.
Outside of Davis having more of an imposing defensive threat level (averaging 2.4 blocks to KAT's 1.5) and rangy athleticism, the numbers show the two are in lockstep in terms of trajectory. Both players are from Kentucky and are considered to be prodigious talents. So, what could Towns do to ensure he could have a more successful career than Davis?
First, it could start with his first “wow” season. In the 2018 NBA season, Davis vaulted to the NBA's upper echelon. That season, Davis averaged 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and a league-leading 2.6 blocks per game. He also shot 53.4 percent from the floor and a career-best 34.1 percent from three. He would eventually lead his New Orleans Pelicans to a first-round upset of the Portland Trailblazers. What made Davis season so impressive was he did this without DeMarcus Cousins for the back half of the season.
KAT has enjoyed excellent seasons but through this season nothing that has separated him from the pack into the NBA's elite. Alas, Steph Curry in 2015, Giannis in 2019, etc. So far this season it appears he's on the right path. He's averaging 26.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He's shooting 51.2 percent from the floor and connecting on an impressive 43.4 percent from three But his Minnesota Timberwolves are currently 10-11.
For comparison's sake, Davis is averaging 26.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game on 49.4 percent shooting, 34.2 percent from three. But his blocks (2.7 to Towns 1.4) and his record with the Lakers (20-3) keeps them at a distance.
But what really will help Towns get to a level beyond Davis's level is being on a team that's geared toward winning. Davis saw the writing on the wall and forced his way out of New Orleans. In the eyes of Davis, it was no use in wasting his best years with a team that wasn't building to win now. While Towns has Andrew Wiggins next to him, he obviously doesn't compare to James as a talent. Towns is only 23, but he may want to align with a franchise who is or has the infrastructure to win and accommodate his talents.
So while KAT compares to Davis statistically, he's still ways to go to catch him from a star power perspective. Davis is in the correct place with an infrastructure that will support his career in the long run. In order for KAT to have a better career than Davis, he must math or surpass Davis on this level. If not, he will always produce, but won't be in the line for legendary status.
Follow Us
Subscribe