After Karl-Anthony Towns finished the fast break with this soaring jam almost over the top of Khris Middleton, Minnesota Timberwolves color analyst Jim Peterson – arguably the best broadcaster in the league, by the way – had more to say about the rookie’s speed than his hops.
“Man, that was impressive. To see that man move that fast,” Peterson gushed. “With his ability to get up and down the floor, he’s going to rival DeAndre Jordan running the floor in this league DeAndre Jordan is hands down the best running big in this league, but Karl-Anthony Towns can get out and fill.”
What’s the best thing about Minnesota’s young big man, though? That rare athleticism is only a part of what makes him such a tantalizing prospect.
In the Timberwolves’ 112-108 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, Towns showed off the complete package. He had 18 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 8-of-12 from the field, and made nearly as many subtly impactful plays as highlight-worthy ones.
That’s why Towns is such a valuable piece for Minnesota as it continues an arduous rebuilding process. At his worst, the 19-year-old will be a center who can stretch the floor, run in transition, protect the rim, and thwart pick-and-rolls all over the court. But at his best? He’s capable of doing all that and much, much more.
And considering his awesome performance in the ‘Wolves’ exhibition finale, it certainly appears Towns will come closer to reaching his potential ceiling than scraping its floor.
