This is Karl-Anthony Towns seventh season with Minnesota Timberwolves. His status as the franchise player for the long-running organization is well-established.
Towns said for the first time during his NBA career that he feels fully appreciated.
His most recent feat was quite remarkable: 60 points in , a franchise record and a 149-139 win at San Antonio Monday night. It took Towns just 36 minutes to do it.
He’s so talented. D’Angelo Russell, a teammate, said that he is just that kind of player. “When you look up, you can see 60 smiling and the entire team is happy. This is the result of everyone being generous. That was what I loved the most. It was incredible, and everyone wanted to see it.”
Towns was conducting a postgame interview on the court and several of his teammates sneaked up behind him to mischievously spray water on his head to celebrate the highest number of points scored by an NBA player this season.
From the bench to the locker rooms, the Timberwolves have supported each other with childlike enthusiasm, and an unselfishness that is unlike any other team in history.
Towns said, “I appreciate that so much because I’ve never been celebrated,” and his previous career high was a 56 point game against Atlanta on March 28, 2018. They make these moments special.”
Towns is affable and emotionally charged. It is obvious that this team has a different chemistry than the other teams he played on in Minnesota. After a difficult couple of seasons with injuries and COVID-19, Towns has made it through. In 2020, his mother succumbed to complications from the virus.
Towns jokingly pointed out on Twitter Tuesday morning that his 60-point game was two year ago, the same day his mother Jackie Cruz-Towns was admitted to New Jersey hospital with COVID-19.
Towns stated, “I have a stronger guardian angel that I’ve ever had.” “I feel like God set me up for success. It’s hard to explain. After all the things I’ve gone through, I feel like this group of guys set me up for success. Since college, I have never experienced such camaraderie, unity and chemistry. It’s possible to have everyone (one through 15) buy in to everything we do, which makes it possible for years.
Towns, the rare post player who won the NBA’s 3-point contest last month at All-Star weekend, helped the Timberwolves (40-30), strengthen their hold on seventh place in Western Conference. If they didn’t catch Denver (41-28), it would keep them home for the play in tournament.
Two of the three games that Timberwolves won against the Nuggets were won by them this season. A visit to Denver on April 1 is also in the cards. It’s their best season in four years with 10 games at or above.500. They finished the 2017-18 season at 47-255. This is the first time the team has reached the playoffs since 2004 when Towns was eight years old.
Coach Chris Finch stated that “people clearly see how talented KAT and what he can do.” He’s responding well to his teammates. He is a man like us all: We need to have the confidence of our fellow teammates to be our best selves.
