The Timberwolves’ young players continue to have impressive summers, from a workout perspective, a media/pop culture perspective, and a media/quote perspective.
We all know about the summer that Karl-Anthony Towns has had thus far, and Andrew Wiggins recently played H-O-R-S-E around the Twin Cities, using half of his body, no less. We’ve also seen Zach LaVine‘s insane workouts and the shape that he’s getting himself in for the fall.
But now, we have some insight into Wiggins’ workouts as well, thanks to a compilation put together by Kyle Ratke at Timberwolves.com.
We’ve posted a couple of the videos and pictures found at the above link here at Dunking in the Wolves in the past, but this is a nice piece with everything in one spot. And man, is it impressive.
Ratke does have a quote from famed trainer Drew Hanlen, as well, which is enlightening and fairly encouraging:
"“It bothered him last year, one, that the Wolves weren’t in the playoffs and two, that he wasn’t an All-Star,” Hanlen said. “The No. 1 focus (is that) Andrew feels like the Wolves can make the playoffs this year. No. 2, Andrew wants to solidify himself as one of the top players in the league.”"
Ratke also points out that if #1 happens, it’s likely because #2 also occurred. Fair points.
Elsewhere, Karl-Anthony Towns held a camp at Hopkins High School in Minnesota and gave a few quotes that will cause Timberwolves fans to swoon. The above-linked article from the St. Paul Pioneer Press starts as follows:
"“A lot of times, I talk to my friends and family and I’m always trying to rush back to Minnesota,” Towns said Wednesday during his basketball camp at Hopkins High School. “This is where I call home.”This being the spot where Towns — the 2015-16 NBA rookie of the year — has spent just one season. But already he seems to have entrenched himself.“I have a lot of my blood and sweat and tears here,” Towns said. “I have a certain thing with Minnesota. I always want to come back here.”Towns knows that’s not the expected response, but he’s not sure why. He was talking to a friend the other day who thought Minnesota summers fluttered around 50 degrees, which Towns informed him was far from the case.“I love being here,” Towns said. “Hopefully, I can spend the rest of my career here.”"
Wow. That’s good stuff, Wolves fans. At the very least, Towns knows how to play the game and is saying all the right things, and then some.
But more likely than not, Towns is genuine. It’s hard to not believe him, isn’t it?
The article finishes with the following.
"“We’re concocting a plan to be the best Timberwolves team that’s come around in a long time,” he said.This month, Towns sent out a tweet that read, “Remember us.” He explained the reasoning Wednesday.“A lot of people tend to think that we’re the Timberwolves, and we’re at the bottom of the barrel,” he said. “I just want everyone to know that we’re coming. Just remember us, remember who we were for the last 13 years, because things are about to change.”"
Let’s just go ahead and get the season started, amirite?
Next: Andrew Wiggins Plays H-O-R-S-E With Fans
We’ll be back later with some notes on ESPN’s Summer Forecast series, which continues to mention your Minnesota Timberwolves…