Karl-Anthony Towns is a monster, and the NBA's Rookie of the Year
While Minnesota Timberwolves fans have been a bit hesitant to fully fall in love with 2014 No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins, they are all-in on 2015 No. 1 pick Karl-Anthony Towns, who put an exclamation point on his final game Wednesday before heading to Toronto to kick off All-Star Weekend with Friday's Rising Stars Challenge.
The Toronto Raptors were the latest to witness the Towns rookie rampage: season-high 35 points on 12-of-19 shooting, 11 rebounds and three blocks in 35 minutes in the Timberwolves' 117-112 victory.
Let's just get this out of the way: Towns is the NBA's Rookie of the Year. The New York Knicks' Kristaps Porzingis has had wonderful first season, and what a story he has been after naive Knicks fans booed him on draft night. But let's make no mistake -- Towns is a monster, and he's the only sane pick for ROY.
His huge game Wednesday put the 20-year-old in some elite company, joining Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Chris Webber as the only players in their 19- 20-year-old seasons to have at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks in a game.
35 points, 11 boards & 3 blocks for @Timberwolves rook @KarlTowns!https://t.co/IcdzhkbCqf
— NBA (@NBA) February 11, 2016
Towns is averaging 17.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 assists for the season. He's shooting 54.4 percent overall and boasts a true shooting percentage an eyelash below 60 percent. That means the 7-footer can shoot free throws. Wednesday he was 11 of 13 from the foul line, and for the season he's knocking them down at an 85.2-percent rate, which makes him exceedingly dangerous late in games.
Towns is one of four players in the league this season averaging at least 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, joining Pau Gasol, Anthony Davis and Brook Lopez. He's one of just 11 players to average a double-double.
The Timberwolves aren't going to make the playoffs again this season, which will extend the longest drought in the NBA to a 12th season. But with each game, the future really is looking a little brighter.
