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I was looking for a Karl-Anthony Towns collection thread, and I was surprised that I couldn’t find one in the top 8 threads. I think this is indicative that we, and much of the NBA, don’t look at Towns as a superstar right now.

Yesterday I went and checked out the All NBA voting (side note, Ben Simmons got only 2 third place votes, so people need to stop valuing him as an All-NBA talent). To me, it’s not surprising that Towns hasn’t made All-NBA, with three amazing players that have surpassed him in Jokic, Embiid, and Gobert. And of course, KAT was hurt last year, so he didn’t get any votes, and last year he only got two (one as a forward!). But I have been looking at players that others have given votes too, obviously in front of KAT.

Bam Adebayo, Capella, Sabonis and Vucevic all got votes last year, and Drummond beat out Towns the year before. I am not crying, “unfair!” Towns defense is improving, but he has a long way to go, and it has not resulted in the team winning more games. However, with the possible exception of Bam, I don’t see any of these other players as better than Towns. However, some of the voters do.

Towns has stated he’s very aware of his image, and he intends to change it here in Minnesota. I think that’s accurate and self-aware. A few years ago, he seemed destined for superstardom, an unguardable young center who put up some historic shooting numbers for a big man. However, he needs to have a great, not good, season to overcome his current image.

I can't really think of a player in recent history that dropped so far so fast in terms of perception

He was #1 player to build around in the 2017 GM poll , but then didn't even receive a vote in the next GM poll after his playoff performance (which was before all the Butler drama)

His playoff series vs. Houston is right up there with Simmons last playoffs as being the most damaging to a player

Not sure if he will ever get his emotions in check, which causes him to lose composure with refs/opponents. He seems to get 2 or 3 just flat out stupid fouls a game because of it. Still young enough that there is hope he can improve the mental side though

I very much believe that a good 80 percent of his perception will change, simply if he starts winning games. His defense can not improve from what it is right now but if the Wolves (or whatever team he was on) wins 50 games, his stock will fly way up. In the NBA losing is extremely damaging to the perception of an individual player.

Calinks wrote:I very much believe that a good 80 percent of his perception will change, simply if he starts winning games. His defense can not improve from what it is right now but if the Wolves (or whatever team he was on) wins 50 games, his stock will fly way up. In the NBA losing is extremely damaging to the perception of an individual player.

Or will Edwards be credited more for the winning?

Klomp wrote:

Calinks wrote:I very much believe that a good 80 percent of his perception will change, simply if he starts winning games. His defense can not improve from what it is right now but if the Wolves (or whatever team he was on) wins 50 games, his stock will fly way up. In the NBA losing is extremely damaging to the perception of an individual player.

Or will Edwards be credited more for the winning?

That’s a good point. The one season we made the playoffs, Butler got all the credit, and still does. Towns had a far better season.

There was an article (that i can't find now) but it basically said he was all but forgotten as a big man. He was the first big man to start shooting the 3 ball with success. Was a decent read.

Anyone think the rumors of Towns "NOT" wanting a trade? There are a lot out there, but they all insist he doesn't want out.
Thoughts?

mplsfonz23 wrote:There was an article (that i can't find now) but it basically said he was all but forgotten as a big man. He was the first big man to start shooting the 3 ball with success. Was a decent read.

The article I posted in the main KAT thread?

Klomp wrote:

Calinks wrote:I very much believe that a good 80 percent of his perception will change, simply if he starts winning games. His defense can not improve from what it is right now but if the Wolves (or whatever team he was on) wins 50 games, his stock will fly way up. In the NBA losing is extremely damaging to the perception of an individual player.

Or will Edwards be credited more for the winning?

That question makes my head hurt. In my opinion, you swap out Ayton for KAT and PHO wins the Title last year. Ayton played well….but KAT is special.


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Slim Tubby wrote:

Klomp wrote:

Calinks wrote:I very much believe that a good 80 percent of his perception will change, simply if he starts winning games. His defense can not improve from what it is right now but if the Wolves (or whatever team he was on) wins 50 games, his stock will fly way up. In the NBA losing is extremely damaging to the perception of an individual player.

Or will Edwards be credited more for the winning?

That question makes my head hurt. In my opinion, you swap out Ayton for KAT and PHO wins the Title last year. Ayton played well….but KAT is special.

Oh, I totally agree. I'm just saying that I wouldn't be surprised to see that as the narrative.

Klomp wrote:

Slim Tubby wrote:

Klomp wrote:Or will Edwards be credited more for the winning?

That question makes my head hurt. In my opinion, you swap out Ayton for KAT and PHO wins the Title last year. Ayton played well….but KAT is special.

Oh, I totally agree. I'm just saying that I wouldn't be surprised to see that as the narrative.

Agreed. KAT is so disrespected on the other Boards.


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Klomp wrote:

mplsfonz23 wrote:There was an article (that i can't find now) but it basically said he was all but forgotten as a big man. He was the first big man to start shooting the 3 ball with success. Was a decent read.

The article I posted in the main KAT thread?

Probably. Sometimes I miss things. Hard to work and catch all the juice.

Well a player spends half his time on the defensive end of the court, and KAT is perhaps a bottom 5 defender at his position, for sure bottom 10.
I can't argue with those lists with him as the 7th or 8th best bigman currently.

Other teams gameplan to exploit him instead of gameplanning to avoid him like they do Gobert.
If he can somehow get himself to the point he is an average or better defender, he jumps back into top 10 overall players in the league discussion. His efficiency #'s also regressed last year and I'd like to see him a little less reliant on 3 point shots, and start tearing teams up in the paint more.

younggunsmn wrote:Well a player spends half his time on the defensive end of the court, and KAT is perhaps a bottom 5 defender at his position, for sure bottom 10.
I can't argue with those lists with him as the 7th or 8th best bigman currently.

Other teams gameplan to exploit him instead of gameplanning to avoid him like they do Gobert.
If he can somehow get himself to the point he is an average or better defender, he jumps back into top 10 overall players in the league discussion. His efficiency #'s also regressed last year and I'd like to see him a little less reliant on 3 point shots, and start tearing teams up in the paint more.

Agreed on the bold. Just because KAT has a great 3 point shot doesn't mean he shouldn't be dominating in the paint most of the time.

younggunsmn wrote:His efficiency #'s also regressed last year and I'd like to see him a little less reliant on 3 point shots, and start tearing teams up in the paint more.

Numbers breakdown:

2019-20: .412 on 7.9 3s, .586 on 9.9 2s
2020-21: .387 on 6.3 3s, .541 on 11.2 2s
-Before ASB: .375 on 5.0 3s, .549 on 10.9 2s
-After ASB: .391 on 6.9 3s, .538 on 11.3 2s

It was a "down" season for Towns yet he still basically averaged 25/10/5.

Klomp wrote:It was a "down" season for Towns yet he still basically averaged 25/10/5.

I just want to add on to this because I think this is the reason why KAT may not get as much credit for the winning as say Edwards. If he puts up another 25/10/5 season but they win 40 games instead of 23, they'll say Towns didn't even change his game and just did what he always does. It'll be Edwards' growth (if he puts up his late rookie season numbers up over a full year) or adding Simmons to the equation that will be the reason for success.