Credit: Associated Press

How Great Can Karl-Anthony Towns Become?

The man can do it all. He’s 21-years-old, 7’0” tall, and is athletic as anything. Minnesota Timberwolves sophomore Karl-Anthony Towns has already won the Rookie of the Year (2016) and named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team (2016). In his second season, he is projected to be named an all-star.

This season, Karl-Anthony Towns has been an absolute menace for Minnesota and is quickly becoming one of the best centers in the NBA. Along with Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine, Towns has turned the Timberwolves from a mediocre franchise into a serious contender in the future. Their 12-26 record throughout 38 games is nothing special, but the young team is still finding themselves.

Towns’ rookie season was one for the ages; it was historic. He averaged 18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 54.2% from the field and 34.1% three-pointers. Towns finished third in double-doubles (51), eighth in rebounding, and tenth in shot-blocking amongst the best players in the NBA. He also became the fifth rookie since 1984 to win the Rookie of the Year unanimously, joining Ralph Sampson, David Robinson, Blake Griffin, and Damian Lillard. Towns performed like a seasoned-veteran and flared his creativity with his handles and acrobatic dunks during his rookie year.

In 2016-17, nothing has changed. As everyone expected, Towns’ averages have spiked and is playing at an all-star level. The Towns is averaging 21.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field and 31.7% from deep. The former Kentucky standout has scored 40+ points two times this season, including 47 points against New York and 41 points against Houston. Against the Knicks, Towns became the third-youngest player (21 years old) in the last three decades to have at least 45 points and 15 rebounds in a game. On December 28, he recorded his first career triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 105–103 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Karl-Anthony Towns’ 7’0” stature with a 7’3” wingspan while weighing 244-pounds gives him the ideal combination of length and speed to wreak havoc on the floor. Not only does he use his size and quickness to score the ball, but also his footwork learned from former teammate and NBA legend Kevin Garnett. His postgame is efficient, as well as hook shot. When his hook shot isn’t there, he counters in the post with either an up-and-under or dropstep keeping his opponent guessing each time. He has handles, could run the floor like a guard, and isn’t afraid to step out and splash a three, too. Towns—along with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins—are perfect examples of how hybrid/mobile big men dominate the league today.

Karl-Anthony Towns’ future is extremely bright. Being named an all-star is soon, becoming an MVP is probable, winning a championship is a work-in-progress. In just one-and-a-half years of being a professional basketball player, Towns has already made a name for himself as one of the best centers in the NBA. In another one-and-a-half years, how great will he become? And another year-and-a-half after that? Look out

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