The sequence greatly amused social networks. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards are at a press conference after the victory in Game 7 in Denver. A journalist tries to point out that the Wolves were quickly able to reach the heights.
The interior cuts it right away: “We lost last season in the playoffs. » The back adds: “We lost the last two seasons. » Our colleague then adds that, usually, a team must lose big series to learn how to win. “We have been losing for twenty years. How do you expect us to lose more? Mess ! », hilariously shouts “KAT” to himparodying Ice Cube and Chris Tucker in Friday.
This is indeed the first conference final since 2004 for the Wolves. Such a long wait. “It’s nice to celebrate and experience these moments”, continues Karl-Anthony Towns. “You never know what’s going to happen next. This is the second time in franchise history that it has reached the conference finals. Why not rejoice? »
Especially for the All-Star, who has not escaped criticism over the years. He insisted on his seniority in Minnesota, “nine years”. Which Anthony Edwards humorously dismissed. “We don’t care about these nine years. »
“He faced a lot of unfair criticism in the playoffs”
For the inside, these were seasons of criticism, hurt, and doubt. He was supposed to take his team to the top but never managed to do so as a leader. He finally gave up this role for Anthony Edwards. And we had to work on the chemistry with Rudy Gobert, which took time.
Faced with these observations, some even imagined that it would be better for the Wolves to transfer him…
Now he is essential for Minnesota. “It means a lot to him. We can say that he is at peace, that he is happy at the moment,” notes his coach Chris Finch. “All young players always think they can do everything on their own, but no one can. He's been on a lot of teams where he had to do a lot. He has the perfect skills to do it. He understood everything we wanted him to do. »
In defense as well as in attack. “The previous series, he defended on Kevin Durant. There, on Nikola Jokic. In attack, we relied on him sometimes, but not always. He remained ready, positive, mentally calm,” continues the coach. “I couldn’t be happier for him. He faced a lot of unfair criticism in the playoffs. But the more we face this, the more experience we have, the more at peace we are. »
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | MIN | 82 | 32 | 54.3 | 34.1 | 81.1 | 2.8 | 7.7 | 10.4 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 18.3 |
| 2016-17 | MIN | 82 | 37 | 54.2 | 36.7 | 83.2 | 3.6 | 8.7 | 12.3 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 25.1 |
| 2017-18 | MIN | 82 | 36 | 54.5 | 42.1 | 85.8 | 2.9 | 9.4 | 12.3 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 21.3 |
| 2018-19 | MIN | 77 | 33 | 51.8 | 40.0 | 83.6 | 3.4 | 9.0 | 12.4 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 24.4 |
| 2019-20 | MIN | 35 | 34 | 50.8 | 41.2 | 79.6 | 2.7 | 8.1 | 10.8 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 26.5 |
| 2020-21 | MIN | 50 | 34 | 48.6 | 38.7 | 85.9 | 2.7 | 7.9 | 10.6 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 24.8 |
| 2021-22 | MIN | 74 | 34 | 52.9 | 41.0 | 82.2 | 2.6 | 7.2 | 9.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 24.6 |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 29 | 33 | 49.5 | 36.6 | 87.4 | 1.7 | 6.5 | 8.1 | 4.8 | 3.8 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 20.8 |
| 2023-24 | MIN | 62 | 33 | 50.4 | 41.6 | 87.3 | 1.5 | 6.8 | 8.3 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 21.8 |
| Total | 573 | 34 | 52.4 | 39.8 | 83.9 | 2.8 | 8.1 | 10.8 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 22.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
