In a 2016 survey around the league, nearly half of all NBA General Managers picked Karl-Anthony Towns over superstars like Kevin Durant and LeBron James to start their franchise. This was right after Towns’ rookie season in which he averaged 18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 54.2/34.1/81.1 shooting splits running away with the Rookie of the Year award.
Yet, despite all this hype surrounding Towns, he has not fully lived up to his potential. In his nine years in Minnesota, Towns made four All-Stars and two All-NBA teams. He averaged 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, on 52.4/39.8/83.9 shooting splits, yet he failed to live up to his billing as a franchise savior. His inability to lead the T-wolves on deep playoff runs, and his reputation as being “soft” meant that Anthony Edwards replaced him as the alpha on the team.
Towns was forced to conform to his game because of the Rudy Gobert trade, and he became, at times the Wolves’ third option. Well, his arrival in New York has changed everything.
Karl-Anthony Towns is Shining under the NBA’s Brightest Lights
Best Offensive Season Ever
Every single number backs up KAT’s insane run to start the season. The only time he’s scored more points per game was the shortened 2019-2020 season. He averaged 26.5 points but only played 35 games that year. No other season is close. His effective field-goal percentage (61.9) is an all-time high, and so are all his shooting splits. He’s currently shooting 50.0% from three, and while that number might regress, the Knicks’ five-man offense will generate plenty of open shots for him.
Towns has the fourth-highest Player Efficiency Rating (PER) this season, a career-best by a wide margin. Additionally, he ranks 15th in offensive Estimated Plus-Minus, and the Knicks thrive offensively when he’s on the floor, scoring at an elite rate of 123.5 points per 100 possessions—placing them in the 95th percentile. Per 100 possessions, Towns is averaging 39.3 points, the sixth-best number in the league. All of these numbers are career highs. Towns’ offensive efficiency and usage rate have skyrocketed with the Knicks, and it looks like he’s finally showing what could have been.
Vibes
It finally seems like KAT is having fun. The videos of him, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and Jalen Brunson walking around the city and discussing it seem to suggest that KAT has come home. In a sense, he has. KAT grew up in Jersey, playing all his high-school ball there. After the initial bumps, KAT has thrived in this offense where he can ball out from the perimeter and drive when needed. He has been the Knicks’ best offensive player this season. For a player who has seen the worst of Twitter, KAT is finally enjoying the game.
Defensive Improvement
The only way for KAT to get better is through his defense.
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
His defense has always been an issue, but it seems far more pronounced this year. Most of it is because Towns is still adjusting to a new scheme and new way of playing defense, but becoming even slightly better at stopping shots will be a major improvement. For a player with elite offensive value, if Towns’ defense could go from league-worst to below-average, his stock would skyrocket.
The Last Word on Towns’ Best Season
Despite the bumpy start, the Knicks are back in business. Aided by a horrific start for most Eastern Conference teams, the Knicks are in a decent position to grab a top-three seed in the East. Towns’ prolific start to the season is a big reason for their 8-6 record, and he will play a massive role in helping the Knicks reach their ceiling.
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