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Interview with Joe Smith: Former No. 1 pick talks Timberwolves

By Trey Flynn

TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 28: Joe Smith shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern after he was selected number one overall by the Golden State Warriors during the 1995 NBA Draft on June 28, 1995 at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario,Canada NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1995 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 28: Joe Smith shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern after he was selected number one overall by the Golden State Warriors during the 1995 NBA Draft on June 28, 1995 at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario,Canada NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1995 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 28: Karl-Anthony Towns. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 28: Karl-Anthony Towns. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

DWW: So, going back to what you were saying about KAT earlier, he had a huge night last night, he scored 56 points, which broke the Minnesota Timberwolves record for points in a game. Do you have any thoughts on KAT’s game as a whole? or maybe what his ceiling is?

JS: I mean, I love his game, he gets up and down the floor, he does it inside and outside, and his upside is great. As long as he keeps developing his game and not take anything for granted, his upside is ridiculous in my eyes.

DWW: Yeah, it’s odd watching him now, because you had one of the best 15-20 foot mid range shots during your time, almost allowing big men like yourself to take those shots. It was extremely smooth, and KAT seems symbolic of that game, taking those mid-range shots and now stepping out and hitting his 3’s at a consistent mark.

DWW: Speaking of what you’ve done for the game, how do you think you would fair in today’s NBA? Do you think you would be trying to step outside of the 20-foot range and try and hit those 3’s to develop your game?

JS: Definitely. I would’ve developed my 3-point shot a lot more to keep myself in the game and it helps you out to be successful nowadays, when I first came into the league the NBA was inside-out, now it’s outside-in. I can shoot the three, I just didn’t shoot it as much as I should’ve.

DWW: Right, and it wasn’t in the playbook as much, even though Flip had that huge playbook – laughs – I can definitely see that though. Guys like Kevin Garnett and Chris Webber get a lot of credit for starting that trend of big fours shooting deep from mid-range, but if you watch any of your career games, like your 38 points vs. the Grizzlies and your 36 points vs. the Wizards, when you were in your groove with that mid-range it was something to behold. I truly believe guys like KAT couldn’t be doing what they’re doing shooting wise, if it wasn’t for players such as yourself.

JS: Thank you, that’s the part of the game that people forget, the mid-range. Now it’s either attack the basket or 3-point shot.

DWW: Agreed, guys like DeMar Derozan get a lot of criticism for pulling up from mid-range and it doesn’t seem warranted.

JS: It’s BEAUTIFUL – laughs – and I love to watch his game, I like to see the threes and the attack to the basket but that mid-range game is something special.

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