Minnesota Timberwolves Draft Rewind: Profiling Towns and Russell

Minnesota Timberwolves Draft Rewind: Profiling Towns and Russell

Towns & Bogut/Divac Comparison:

Karl-Anthony Towns (in 2015) and Andrew Bogut (2005) were both taken first overall in their respective drafts while Vlade Divac was taken no. 26 in 1989.

Towns was compared to Bogut coming into the league because of the ability to defend the paint, combined with his rebounding prowess. Towns’ comp to Divac is because of their shooting abilities from deep as bigs and shot-blocking capabilities.

Towns made an impact immediately as a rookie for the Timberwolves as he was named the Rookie of the Year and was part of the All-Rookie First Team. KAT has averaged 22.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting a 53/40/83 line (field goal, 3-point, and free throw percentages) through his first five seasons in the NBA.

He has also been named to the NBA West All-Star Team twice and was on the All-NBA Third Team in 2017-18.

Just like Towns, Bogut was named to the All-Rookie First Team. The former Utah Ute was also named to the All-NBA Third Team, All-Defensive Second Team, and led the league in blocks per game in 2010-11. Through his first five seasons, Bogut put up averages of 12.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 53.1 percent from the floor.

Divac, out of Serbia, was one of the first international players to make a major impact in the NBA. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers and had the ability to be mentored by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Divac was named to the All-Rookie First Team and played in his lone All-Star Game in 2001. In the first five seasons of his career, Divac averaged 11.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game while hitting 51 percent of his shots and 25 percent from 3-point range.