Karl-Anthony Towns is a monster.
We knew the Minnesota Timberwolves selected a special talent at No. 1, someone who projected as the future of all big men, that three-point-shooting, rebound-wrangling, shot-blocking machine. But it was unclear how long it would take for him to develop into the complete package. He was mostly used as a defensive everything in his lone season at Kentucky, seldom asked to do much on the offensive end. And when he did do something, it wasn’t as a featured back-to-the-basket option, or even as a shooter. In Minnesota, he would be asked do everything, though maybe not right way.
And, yes, the Timberwolves don’t have him shooting threes just yet. He has attempted four all season and is instead operating in Kevin Garnett range, from just inside the arc and closer. And, well, he’s doing a helluva job.
Ahem:
"Screw sample sizes. Karl-Anthony Towns is 20-year-old Shaq with a jump shot." pic.twitter.com/733TzJuOYS
— Dan Favale (@danfavale) November 11, 2015
Sure, it’s only been seven games, but holy crap. Towns is every bit as fantastic as advertised and then some. He can do just about everything. He’s even an average to above-average passer for someone of his age at his possession.
It’s difficult to find a true comparison to him, really. Shaquille O’Neal isn’t the most ideal correlation. Towns is similarly built to 20-year-old Shaq, but he has the outside and free-throw touch The Big Aristotle never did.
Could he end up being better than Shaq? Again, the “it’s early” thing. But we’re seeing a ton from him, and he’s doing things that are giving way to hyperbolic stances that, to be honest, become less stylized with each passing game.
Exhibit A:
i know it's just been 3 games against non-playoff teams, but I have seen enough to suggest that Karl Anthony Towns has more upside than AD.
— david b. thorpe (@coachthorpe) November 3, 2015
Let’s not go that far just yet. Anthony Davis is an alien, and while he hasn’t been in peak alien mode all season, he also hasn’t had the best supporting cast around him and is now nursing an injured.
Instead, let’s just recognize that Towns is on the fast track to superstardom, a more direct path than anyone could have feasibly predicted.
If he somehow thrusts himself into the company of all-time greats like Shaq and Davis and Kristaps Porzingis and Garnett, good for him. He’ll deserve it.
And we’ll expect it.
