Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns is entering the next chapter of his career. The 23-year-old former Rookie of the Year has to step up even more for the Timberwolves to make a run after missing the playoffs in 2019.
The fifth-year big man, at seven feet tall, developed his game in the offseason to learn more guard attributes.
Per Jon Krawczynski in The Athletic:
“We really did a lot of guard-oriented thought process,” Mazarei said. “During his big-man work we were making him think like a guard, see every option, use those ball drills. He does it, but now it’s more of an emphasis. See the slashers early. He wants to get everyone involved. It’s a team game. That’s the only way they’re going to get into the playoffs.”
Towns averaged 24.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in 77 contests for the T-Wolves during the 2018-19 NBA season, shooting 51.8% from the field, 40.0% from the 3-point line, and 83.6% from the free throw line. Towns missed only five games last season after three consecutive seasons in his NBA career appearing in all 82 games.
While Towns, the number-one overall selection by Minnesota in the 2015 NBA Draft, is a double-double machine with a nice scoring touch on offense and dominating rebounding ability on both ends, the New Jersey native is also known to have solid court vision and awareness, finding teammates for scoring opportunities.
Becoming more like a “guard” could be the next step for the center to expand his game and take the next step. Towns earned his second All-Star Game appearance last season but missed out on an All-NBA team selection after making the third team in 2017-18.
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