With the whole Jimmy Butler drama well behind him, it appears that Minnesota Timberwolves cornerstone superstar Karl-Anthony Towns is all set to reclaim his post as one of the league's top big men. However, as it turns out, teammate Derrick Rose actually played a big part in helping Towns get through the challenges of dealing with such a high-profile distraction.
In her piece for ESPN, Jackie MacMullan quotes Kentucky head coach John Calipari, Karl-Anthony Towns' former college coach, as saying that Derrick Rose was a great mentor in Towns' corner during his time of need.
“Derrick is the one who got Karl through that whole Butler mess,” Calipari said.
Calipari went on to explain that Rose did not only serve as a friend who told Towns what he wanted to hear, but also as a staunch critic who called out the 7-foot big man when he felt the need to do the same.
It appears that it worked wonders for Karl-Anthony Towns, as he has successfully navigated through a potentially destructive episode in his career. For his part, Derrick Rose is just happy that Towns listened to what he had to say.
“He's so mindful of everything I've told him,” Rose explains. “So many young guys are stubborn, hard-headed. They know everything. KAT's not like that. He listens.”
This narrative speaks volumes of the maturity level of both Rose and Towns. This could definitely serve as a strong foundation to a very fruitful relationship for these two teammates, and should only work in the favor of the Timberwolves in general.
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