Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns doesn't just view Kevin Garnett as a former teammate, but sees the future Hall of Famer as a mentor and part of his family.
When Towns won Rookie of the Year in 2016, Garnett was on the Timberwolves and he played a big role in Towns' sound play. Towns, who is now an All-Star and one of the best young players in the league, says his next goal is to chase down Garnett's legacy with the Timberwolves.
“I’m very appreciative,” Towns told Brandon ‘Scoop B' Robinson on Scoop B Radio. “I have great mentors and such great family and people I call family, and he’s just one of ‘em. I see him as nothing but a first ballot Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players to ever play. I see myself chasing him down.”
Towns is coming off his best season as a pro. The former No. 1 overall pick out of Kentucky averaged 21.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game during the 2017-18 regular season while shooting 54.5 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from 3, and 85.8 percent from the free-throw line. Towns’ stellar production helped the Timberwolves make the 2018 playoffs in the rugged Western Conference for the first time since 2004.
Towns, 22, has a long way to go to chase down Kevin Garnett. The Big Ticket is the best player in Minnesota history and brought the franchise back to prominence during his prime. In 970 career games with the Timberwolves, Garnett averaged 19.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.6 blocks. He was an eight-time All-Star and won the 2004 MVP award.
Karl-Anthony Towns is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The center will make $7.8 million this season. If he and the Timberwolves are unable to agree upon an extension before the 2018-19 season starts, Towns will enter restricted free agency in the summer of 2019 if Minnesota offers him a $10.2 million qualifying offer.
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