Kevin Garnett is a man that is so intense so competitive, that in 2009 he had to be forbidden to practice by Doc Rivers …show more content…
his head coach. This was a big deal for Garnett, a man who believed that missing a single workout was a sign of weakness. So as practice began Garnett began to mimic another NBA player named Leon Powe's move on the court. Running when Powe ran, jumping when Powe jumped. He moved with such ferocity that Doc Rivers yelled at him. Telling him if he didn’t cut it out practice would be canceled for everyone. And Garnett ignored him because taking a single day off was just unexpectable. So Doc canceled practice.
Now the reason why I told you about the story of Kevin Garnett because as a veteran, Garnett is currently finishing his Hall of Fame carrier as a mentor to Towns. That sort of relationship is rare the media would like you to believe that old players mentor young players all the time but really they are usually out for themselves. But as Town's dad said to the media ,"the best thing to happen to Karl in his carrier has been Kevin Garnett." If you ask Karl Anthony towns what his goal in life is it's simple. To be the best basketball player on the planet. And so when Kevin Garnett asked Towns to work out with him he jumped to the chance. Now keep in mind that these were no ordinary workouts. By day 3 of their training Towns was so sore he could not lift his arms. At this point Tayshaun prince pulled towns aside and said to stop trying to be Garnett. Believing that nobody can match Garnett's intensity on the court. But towns proved them wrong.
Practice after practice two members of the Timberwolves were usually found working harder than anyone else. One was Garnett and the other was Karl Anthony Towns. Each day was something different, jump shots one day post hooks the next. But one constant thing that happened was the screams of Garnett pushing Towns to unlock his potential. Pushing him like he pushed so many teammates before. The list of players who have shrugged to Garnett's constant, relentless work ethic was a long one. And that is because the rules of Garnett's workouts are simple. Take one day off or take one workout off and Garnett is done with you.
That is why one year before the sight of Garnett working with Towns is very telling.
Towns has proven to Garnett that he does have what it takes and he is willing to work relentlessly to become the best. But to be the best you also have to have talent and that is something that Towns is not lacking. In his first season in the NBA at the young age of 20, Karl Anthony Towns averaged 18.3 points 10.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. While these numbers are clearly remarkable for a rookie, to clearly understand them we need to put a historical contexts to see just how rare Town's rookie season was. According to Basketball Reference.com the only rookies that averaged 18.3 points 10.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in their first year as a rookie was, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal Hakeem Olajuwon, Alonzo Mourning, Elton Brand, Ralph Sampson, and Karl Anthony …show more content…
Towns. Looking at this lists Towns is already in some elite company.
Every one of these people was at least an all-star. And many of these people are Hall of Famers. What is even more Impressive is that Karl is only 20 years old. While almost everyone on this list spent more years in college so they are more older and experienced for their rookie year. So the thing is Towns stats are not the only thing that is impressive about him. The most impressive thing about him just might be his style of play. In the modern era where 3 pointers became not as just as a weapon but as a necessity. Karl Anthony Towns has become the perfect model for the new kind of
center.
I already told you how he can score, rebound, pass, and block shots but he can do so much more. He can shoot the three. As demonstrated by the fact that he knocked down 30 this season while shooting 32 percent from 3. Remember the 7 other players I mentioned before? None of them made more than 1 3 pointer in there rookie year. He can dribble and he can pass. As evidence that he won the skills challenge in the All-Star Game. Becoming the second tallest skills challenge winner of all time. He is a modern All-Around player living in the body of a 7 footer. In a league where Draymond Green has emerged as a legitimate star at center do to his ability to defend big man, Towns has the chance to take the center position to the next level. He can become the first actual center who can make threes, handle the ball, run the offense, and defend every position.
At this young of an age the sky is really the limit. But at this young of an age in the NBA allot of your future successes is dictated by your teammates and your organization. Would we remember Scottie Pippen as one of the best small forwards of all time if he didn’t play with Michael Jordan and win 6 championships? Would James Worthy earn the nickname as "Big Game James" if he wasn't catching passes from Magic Johnson? And would Toni Parker and Manu Ginobili both seem destined for the Hall of Fame of not for Tim Duncan? Probably not. And as you can see having good teammates mattes allot. Luckily for Karl Anthony Towns he has great teammates. At the young age of 21, Andrew Wiggins is coming off a season in which he averaged 21 points per game. Only 34 other players in the history of the NBA has put those scoring numbers at that young of an age.
And so it seems that Towns already has his wingman in Andrew Wiggins for the rest of the decade. He also might already have the perfect 3rd option in 20 year old Zach Lavine. After last year's All-Star break, Lavine Averaged 16.4 points per game while shooting nearly 45 percent from 3 point range. He is incredibly athletic, has a great work ethic and seems like one day he will become an All-Star. So add Wiggins and Lavine to the multiple other assets the Timberwolves hold, such as Kris Dunn and Ricky Rubio, the Timberwolves already have a championship foundation. Which means in the future as the Timberwolves grow and have success, it will be the prime destination for any free agent.
And so Towns has great teammates he has the talent but the only thing left is to have a great coach. Because coaches in the NBA can often be very bad. Which is why Karl Anthony Towns is in such a unique spot with his new coach. Even though Tom Thibodeau had a rough year last year with the Chicago Bulls, and has a reputation of playing certain players too many minutes. But with these few flaws aside Thibodeau has also proven that he is one of the best coaches in the NBA during his time coaching. He is possibly the best defensive coach in the league. He has already won a coach of the year award, he is the fastest coach in NBA history to win 100 games. And he was a key factor in Boston's defensive plain on Kobe Bryant in the 2008 NBA Finals and ultimately their championship victory.
On top of all of this, the man lives and breathes basketball. He is absolutely obsessed with the game. In the last year, he took a break from coaching a team and instead visited some of the all-time coaching legends at practice. Soaking in knowledge and becoming a better coach himself. This list includes San Antonio Spurs coaching legend Greg Popovich. Which is fitting because the success of Popovich and Tim Duncan is the best possible outcome for the pair of Thibodeau and Towns. And the thing is many believe that multiple championships is a real possibility for the Timberwolves. Many believe that the combination of Karl Anthony Town's talent, his teammates, and his coaching is all very rare. But of course he has a long journey to go before that happens and many are very excited to see it.
And that is why me and many believe that Karl Anthony Towns will be the next NBA legend. His whole situation is rare. But in my mind, he will be the best center in the NBA and an amazing NBA legend