Losing Karl-Anthony Towns was nothing short of a traumatic experience for the Minnesota Timberwolves fanbase. The player who defined the franchise for nearly a decade leaving the Twin Cities produced something of an identity crisis, even if Anthony Edwards was already undoubtedly the team's best player.
For fans, and even reporters and coaches, walking into the building and seeing KAT rocking the Timberwolves jersey just felt right. So for many, to see him in another uniform has been utterly shocking and something that is going to take time to totally come to terms with.
With all that in mind, it can be easy for Wolves fans to think the grass is greener on the other side. But New York Knick fans may have something to say about that. As beloved as Towns was (and is) in Minnesota, he had some obvious weaknesses that sometimes limited his impact on the hardwood. We are seeing one of those on display right now.
This week, Tim Bontemps went on the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast and shared a shocking statistic. For the season, KAT is allowing a league-worst 91.4% shooting on shots he defends in the restricted area.
Karl-Anthony Towns is allowing 91.4% shooting! Players are shooting 32 for 35 against KAT in the restricted area this season according to .@TimBontemps. It's the worst defensive percentage for any player who has guarded at least 30 shots at the rim. pic.twitter.com/0FF9Hwf4It
— The Knicks Recap (@TheKnicksRecap) November 11, 2024
KAT is allowing a league-worst percentage as a defender
According to Bontemps, the breakdown of this statistic is even more eye-popping than it initially appears. The 91.4% shooting Towns is allowing comes on 35 shot attempts from his opposition - of which he has allowed 32 shots to be converted. That is a staggering lack of interior defense from the former Timberwolves big man.
You can chalk this up to a lot of things. For one, KAT is still getting used to playing in this new system in New York, and he will need time to adjust to an entire new defensive scheme. On top of that, he has a brand new roster of teammates around him, and learning how to operate effectively next to them all was never going to happen overnight.
At the same time, this also highlights the defensive struggles we saw Towns experience for years in Minnesota. It was one of the most consistent gripes Wolves fans had for their former franchise player, and now it is being amplified at possibly a greater level than ever before with the Knicks.
There is always going to be some level of remorse about losing KAT from the Timberwolves fanbase, but a stat like this should serve to lessen those regretful feelings. Minnesota is trending in a positive direction, and Towns' lackluster defense on the interior is a thing of the past for the Wolves.