Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 things we learned on media day

Minnesota Timberwolves Media Day Takeaway No. 2: Karl-Anthony Towns’ airing of frustrations

Over the past few years, Karl-Anthony Towns has changed his approach to media availabilities.

It’s understandable; Towns was once a polished, say-what-they-want-to-hear, impressive young star when in front of a microphone. But his approach in recent years has been even more praiseworthy.

It’s been well-documented that Towns has been through a lot in his still-young NBA career. But the list of hardships and challenges bears some revisiting.

Towns has now played for five different front office regimes as he heads into his seventh season in the league. He’s had four different head coaches, several defensive coordinators, and dozens of teammates.

After playing four completely healthy seasons, Towns has health with multiple wrist injuries, a knee issue, and contracting COVID-19 all during the course of the previous two campaigns.

Off the court, Towns tragically lost his mother and six other relatives to COVID-19 complications during 2020 and was in a serious car accident during that same year.

Towns was open and honest with the media on Monday, and it’s impossible to fault him for that approach.

Towns is right. He has been loyal to the organization and to the fanbase. The only rumors surrounding Towns’ status with the Wolves have been just that: rumors.

Clearly, Towns is in a much better place mentally than in the recent past. Frankly, it’s great to see that the out-of-left-field Rosas saga of the past week appears to have rolled off Towns’ back. After all, it’s just another thing in a long line of things that Towns has dealt with as a member of the Timberwolves.

Hopefully, this translates into an ultra-focused, dominant season for the Wolves’ superstar big man.