The Minnesota Timberwolves vs. the Golden State Warriors should be box-office next season. Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT) believes it’s championship or bust for Minnesota, and apparently, that tickled Draymond Green.
When Towns’ statement about his high hopes for the Timberwolves’ upcoming season was reposted by ClutchPoints on Instagram, Green commented on the post with 11 laughing emojis.
Draymond always hating on kat rent free😹😹😹 pic.twitter.com/5vzTDqEc3V
— 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐳𝐧 32🥷🏾 (@katszn_) July 24, 2022
This isn’t Green’s first time going at KAT through the media. Or even Rudy Gobert, for that matter.
“You keep mentioning me in the same sentence with him — we’re not alike,” Draymond boldly claimed on live TV earlier this year.
Gobert and Green finished first and second respectively for Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, with Green taking the honor home. Gobert managed to snatch the award three times, claiming it in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
They have similarities defensively. Both are great communicators, play great defense without being foul-prone, and erase teammates’ mistakes by having perfect positioning.
History will probably say Gobert, Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo were the best overall defenders of this era — defensive studs like Jrue Holiday and Marcus Smart will be seen in that light for point of attack defense specifically.
The Timberwolves front court can respond to the chatter through their individual play and *winning*. They’ll see Draymond three to four times in the regular season and could potentially see him in the playoffs. To keep winning games is your main priority, but winning your matchup doesn’t hurt either.
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1458928457564364804?s=20&t=_kvElZX2vlyvsczSd5bywQ
With Gobert’s arrival, KAT is primed to play the four more frequently. Draymond is a do-it-all play-disruptor type of defender and guards multiple positions. Even with his versatility, you have to imagine that he’ll line up with KAT more times than not when these teams matchup. Wiggins should take the Anthony Edwards assignment while Draymond takes KAT.
Win that matchup Draymond. That’s one of the best defenders of the modern era, and KAT can hush the noise by outplaying him and winning.
This is maybe the most talented and cohesive roster KAT has played on; giving him his best chance to seriously compete for something other than All-Star and All-NBA appearances.
Anthony Edwards is one of the main reasons this is the most talented roster KAT’s played on. He scored a then-career-high 48 points vs the Warriors on November 10, 2021.