2015 NBA Draft results: Karl-Anthony Towns picked by Minnesota Timberwolves
The Kentucky big man will go to the Minnesota Timberwolves with the top overall selection.
Karl-Anthony Towns became the latest Kentucky one-and-done to go No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft after being selected with the top pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. Towns joins an exciting, up-and-coming team that already featured the last two No. 1 picks, reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins and 2013's top choice, Anthony Bennett.
Towns, 19, entered his freshman year at Kentucky as one of the top recruits in the country and did nothing but live up to the hype. He was a centerpiece of one of the most dominant teams in recent memory, which authored a fantastic season even with the Wildcats’ Final Four defeat at the hands of Wisconsin. Towns repeatedly showed he can be a two-way force at the next level with his unique combination of size, athleticism and defensive instincts, and these qualities make him the ideal big man for the modern NBA.
Canis Hoopus, SB Nation’s Timberwolves blog, says that Towns should be a welcomed addition to the franchise even if it takes him time to reach his considerable potential.
Rookies, especially rookie bigs, take time, so it's unreasonable to expect stardom right away for Towns. But with luck, he will eventually become the anchor of a good defense (something the Wolves, the worst defensive team in the NBA) sorely need, while also contributing to an offense that features Ricky Rubio led pick and rolls and Andrew Wiggins creating opportunities for himself and, hopefully, others. If he is in fact able to stretch the floor from a front court position, it adds a dimension that is becoming increasingly important in the NBA.
The numbers were never big for Towns at Kentucky, but that's largely because he played on such a deep, balanced team. In just over 21 minutes per game, he averaged over 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks, and shot an efficient 57 percent from the floor. He stepped up in the NCAA Tournament, too, posting a career-high 25-point effort in the team's tough Elite Eight victory over Notre Dame. Now, he joins Anthony Davis and John Wall as recent Wildcats to go No. 1 overall after a year in Lexington.
Towns may not be as polished offensively as fellow top big man prospect Jahlil Okafor, but he should quickly be able to make an impact in Minnesota on the defensive end. The Timberwolves have lacked a great defensive big man to anchor the post since Kevin Garnett left years ago, and neither the Garnett that played for Minnesota in 2014-15 nor Nikola Pekovic can be that player. Towns should be, and should be able to partner with Wiggins, Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine and a slew of other talents to lead one of the most exciting young cores in the league.
New teammate Ricky Rubio is already putting the rookie to work.
Hello @KarlTowns !! You ready to pick up my dry cleaning tomorrow ?? #WelcomeRook
— Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) June 25, 2015 See More:
