Minnesota Timberwolves power forward/center Karl Anthony Towns is very familiar with having the pressure building on him to carry the team. At times, he stood alone in the effort to help the team find wins. And as you all know all too well, that effort did not always end well. But for better or worse, Towns was determined to stick it out, and willingly carried the team through some pretty low points.
Thankfully, lean times appear to be well in the past. But that creates an entirely new set of challenges for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season. What do I mean? Well, let’s talk this one through.
Until this season, the Minnesota Timberwolves success was almost entirely dependent upon the performance of KAT. If he played well, the Timberwolves won. If he struggled, the Timberwolves lost.
KAT on a hot Timberwolves roster
In the 2022-23 NBA season opener, Karl-Anthony Towns struggled with just 12 points, 20 percent shooting from the floor, 28.6 percent shooting from the perimeter, three turnovers, and four personal fouls. It wasn’t a total washout for the Timberwolves Tall One, as he did pull in six rebounds and dish out seven assists. But this was clearly not a game that KAT wants to write home about.
While there was a lot going on with Towns, I’m by no means suggesting that an overreaction is an option. Towns entered the game still feeling the lingering effects of a prolonged illness. At game time, he weighed some 20-25 pounds less than he typically does in NBA competition. As a result, he was less physical, a bit less energetic, and a lot less effective. And that is completely understandable.
But there is more going on this season. This year, KAT is the Timberwolves’ power forward, and only plays center when teammate Rudy Gobert is off the court. That changes everything.
Fun Wolves game last night. Certainly everyone trying to figure out how they fit in, but Gobert's play had me really impressed.
— Kyle Ratke (@Kyle_Ratke) October 20, 2022
Big ? will be how KAT responds to sometimes being the third option. Struggled a bit with that last night and body language showed it.
Struggling may be a bit kind, but I’m okay with that.
KAT has a lot on his plate right now
Before you look down your nose at his struggles in the opener, keep in mind that he has a list of new things to become proficient at this season. First and foremost, he wants to unlock and maximize Gobert’s offensive output. With seven assists, I’d say that he is well on his way to accomplishing that.
But through the first half of the season, KAT must figure out his role. When should he be shooting? When should he be passing? And perhaps most importantly, how does his new positional play change the way he approaches his defense?
One win is on the books. But be patient with Towns right now. He has to regain weight and learn a lot quickly. It’s safe to say that he really does have a lot on his plate: Both figuratively and literally.