The Minnesota Timberwolves currently reside in last place in the Western Conference. Holding a 12-38 record at the moment, it's safe to say they won't be making the playoffs this year. However, with Anthony Edwards, D'Angelo Russell, and Karl-Anthony Towns on the roster, this team has a bright future ahead.
With that said, Towns is someone who has received a ton of criticism throughout his career. One thing he consistently gets called out for is bringing a “stat chaser,” basically meaning he only cares about obtaining stats to make himself look good, rather than play for the team.
It seems Karl-Anthony Towns is done with wanting that image for himself, per Dane Moore. Towns expresses how he wants the narrative about him to change.
Karl-Anthony Towns says he's had his chance to "chase stats" and "that shit is over".
He says he knows that's the word on him.
"At the end of the day, the word on me is still gonna be the word. There’s only one way to change the narrative, and that’s to go beat the narrative.” pic.twitter.com/rBgZP3qzmg
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) April 3, 2021
At 25 years old, Towns has plenty of time left in the NBA. He can turn it around and change his story, but it's all on him. He sounds as though he is tired of losing and wants to change that bad habit. How can Towns ensure his game creates victories for the Timberwolves? That's for him to find out and work through.
He is one of the best centers in the league. No one can deny him of that, as he's currently averaging 24.6 points, 11 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. An impressive stat sheet, however, his team is only 12-38. These stats don't mean much when they don't lead to wins.
Hopefully, we see a more focused version of Minnesota's star center. They have the talent to become a playoff contender, but it will come down to drive and determination if this organization wants to play in the postseason next year. Towns' shift in mindset can be a great first step in the right direction.