**The Official Karl-Anthony Towns Thread**

[Killboard]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DxQvjb3SBI[/youtube]

[NikolaPekovic]

Yep call it blasphemy and setting the bar to high but I see a lot of parallels between KAT and Tim Duncan. Considering Duncan was a 4 year college guy I can't wait to see what KAT becomes in the next few years.

This gives me chills because it's kind of true. KAT is ...understated in the same way that Duncan is. When I saw him in the first preseason game at times he reminded me of Anthony Davis, and NikolaPekovic mentioned LaMarcus Aldridge, which I can sort of see as well. But Duncan, I think that might be the best comparison of all. And yes, it does feel very bold to say, but it rings true to me.

I think the thing is that like Duncan, Towns has very, very efficient movements. He is able to create bursts of speed surprisingly quickly for a big man and he shows very little indecision and he makes really good choices. All of this together makes his game exceptionally smooth. Plus the obvious effort and awareness on defense.

Just wait til he starts playing with Rubio feeding him the ball.

The Duncan comparison even makes more sense when you factor in KAT's outlet passing ability. How many big's come in with that skill?

[Feilong]

[Klomp]

Switched out the bolded Russell and bolded KAT instead

Taken from GoldenThroat at Lakersground (I bolded for emphasis):

Amongst the Top 10 Picks...

PER

1) Karl-Anthony Towns...25.0
2) D'Angelo Russell........19.4
3) Stanley Johnson........17.9
4) Willie Cauley-Stein.....16.0
5) Mario Hezonja...........13.4
6) Kristaps Porzingis.......12.8
7) Frank Kaminsky..........12.7
8) Emmanuel Mudiay.......11.5
9) Justise Winslow...........11.1
10) Jahlil Okafor................5.2

Offensive Rating

1) Willie Cauley-Stein.......122.1
2) D'Angelo Russell..........109.3
3) Karl-Anthony Towns.....109.1
4) Stanley Johnson..........100.9
4) Justise Winslow.............92.2
5) Mario Hezonja...............91.3
9) Frank Kaminsky.............86.6
8) Emmanuel Mudiay.........84.3
9) Kristaps Porzingis..........84.1
10) Jahlil Okafor................73.3

Usage Rate

1) Jahlil Okafor.................32.4%
2) Emmanuel Mudiay.........30.6%
3) Stanley Johnson............24.6%
4) Kristaps Porzingis..........24.5%
5) Mario Hezonja...............23.5%
6) Karl-Anthony Towns.......23.2%
7) Frank Kaminsky.............22.2%
8) D'Angelo Russell............19.8%
9) Justise Winslow.............14.3%
10) Willie Cauley-Stein.......10.6%

True Shooting %

1) Karl-Anthony Towns.....59.4%
2) Willie Cauley-Stein.......53.7%
3) Mario Hezonja.............53.4%
4) D'Angelo Russell..........51.4%
5) Stanley Johnson...........50.7%
6) Emmanuel Mudiay........45.8%
T-7) Jahlil Okafor..............44.5%
T-7) Frank Kaminsky.........44.5%
9) Kristaps Porzingis.........40.9%
10) Justise Winslow..........40.0%

Rebounding Percentage

1) Karl-Anthony Towns.....18.5%
2) Frank Kaminsky...........15.9%
3) Willie Cauley-Stein.......14.5%
4) Kristaps Porzingis........14.2%
5) Justise Winslow...........10.7%
6) Jahlil Okafor................10.2%
7) Stanley Johnson............9.9%
8) D'Angelo Russell...........9.0%
9) Mario Hezonja..............6.3%
10) Emmanuel Mudiay.......5.3%

Assist Percentage

1) D'Angelo Russell..........33.5%
2) Emmanuel Mudiay........29.8%
3) Justise Winslow............22.3%
4) Stanley Johnson...........13.8%
5) Kristaps Porzingis.........12.9%
6) Frank Kaminsky............12.6%
7) Mario Hezonja...............8.2%
8) Jahlil Okafor..................8.1%
9) Karl-Anthony Towns.......6.9%
10) Willie Cauley-Stein.......0.0%

Turnover Percentage

1) Willie Cauley-Stein.........5.8%
2) Stanley Johnson...........13.9%
T-3) Justise Winslow..........15.7%
T-3) Kristaps Porzingis.......15.7%
5) D'Angelo Russell...........16.3%
T-6) Karl-Anthony Towns....17.0%
T-6) Frank Kaminsky.........17.0%
8) Mario Hezonja..............20.3%
9) Jahlil Okafor.................22.4%
10) Emmanuel Mudiay.......22.7%

[urinesane]

That's fantastic.

[theGreatRC]

That's fantastic.

It's up there with this one:

[Klomp]

It's up there with this one:

Yeah, but SI > Slam

[C.lupus]

Good outtakes from the photoshoot here:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Twolves_PR/status/656562825280667652[/tweet]

[Killboard]

TOWNS PRESEASON:
per36..........advanced
FGA 12.3.........500%
FTA 6.2..........900%
TOV 3.1..........17.0%
REB 10.5..........18.5%
AST 1.2...........6.9%
STL 1.5...........2.2%
BLK 1.9...........4.6%
PPG 17.9
PER 23.7
TS% 0.594

DUNCAN ROOKIE SEASON
per36..........advanced
FGA 15.7..........549%
FTA 5.9..........662%
TOV 3.4.........15.7%
REB 11.9.........17.6%
AST 2.7.........13.7%
STL 0.7.........0.9%
BLK 2.5.........4.5%
PPG 21.1
PER 22.6
TS% 0.577


Is a small sample for Towns, and Duncan played around 38 MPG while Towns is around 24, but Tim was two years older and had a very good team around him.

[urinesane]

TOWNS PRESEASON:
per36..........advanced
FGA 12.3.........500%
FTA 6.2..........900%
TOV 3.1..........17.0%
REB 10.5..........18.5%
AST 1.2...........6.9%
STL 1.5...........2.2%
BLK 1.9...........4.6%
PPG 17.9
PER 23.7
TS% 0.594

DUNCAN ROOKIE SEASON
per36..........advanced
FGA 15.7..........549%
FTA 5.9..........662%
TOV 3.4.........15.7%
REB 11.9.........17.6%
AST 2.7.........13.7%
STL 0.7.........0.9%
BLK 2.5.........4.5%
PPG 21.1
PER 22.6
TS% 0.577


Is a small sample for Towns, and Duncan played around 38 MPG while Towns is around 24, but Tim was two years older and had a very good team around him.

Man, you must be bored.

[sheefo13]

Where can I get a copy??

[kmgarnett21]

This is magnificent, but I hate SI's regional covers. If I went to my local store and bought this NBA preview, I'd be stuck with the Duncan and Aldridge cover.

Does anyone know if you can buy SI's with the regional cover you want online? (Other than waiting for it to be available on sicovers.com and having to pay $20 for it?)

[theGreatRC]

KAT's last preseason game before the start of his career, here's to hopefully a HOF and new legend in the making starting on wednesday:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k47ZONTA_SE[/youtube]

[Klomp]

OK lately the most common skillset comparisons have been Duncan and Aldridge, but he was doing some stuff out there that both of them could only dream of.

Taking things a different direction, I was trying to think of a personality comparison. The first that came to mind was Shaq. Thoughts?

[Klomp]

OK lately the most common skillset comparisons have been Duncan and Aldridge, but he was doing some stuff out there that both of them could only dream of.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/APkrawczynski/status/657753555831517184[/tweet]

[Maefteda]

Why did I ever doubt you KAT? What an awesome display on both ends. This guy is gonna be a beast.

Having him on the defensive end is gonna be so crucial when the league needs to stop Anthony Davis.

[vagelis]

What a performance by KAT!
In these last friendly games I have changed my opinion about him 180 degrees.
And especially this last performance was awesome!
KAT and Wiggins and as third part Lavine, can make Wolves a dynasty.
I think that wolves fans have to be very optimist.

[Murphs56]

umm those highlights? WOW, he has so many different skills, and he hasn't even played an NBA game yet. Imagine what he's going to be like 3 years from now.

[Dual]

This guy is the next big thing, yesterday watching the game i was literally jumping out of the couch every play...what a talent, he is so complete at this young stage of his career that is amazing.
Lets go Wolves!

[Tirion]

KAT preseason stats per 36 min

Points – 18.3
FG % – 52.6%
FT % – 88%
TS % – 60%
Usage – 22%
Rebounds – 11.6
Assists – 1.1
Stls – 1.3
Blks – 1.6
TOs – 2.5
PFs – 4.2

Age – 19