Latest podcast guest “Podcast P with Paul George”, Karl Anthony Towns was brought to remember the highlights that marked the beginning of his career, before his arrival in the NBA. If there was only one experience left, it would undoubtedly be the time he was able to face the American “second Dream Team” with the jersey of the Dominican Republic, when he was still only a “freshman”. in high school.
The friendly match took place on July 12, 2012 in Las Vegas, and KAT then had the opportunity to compete against Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and company, on a mission to prepare for the 2012 Olympic Games.
“You’re still a kid and you’re definitely playing against the best players in the world. They were all at their best, LeBron, Kobe, Deron Williams was also on the team, and he was a major point guard in the NBA, Kevin Love was still in Minnesota, Tyson Chandler had just won the title with Dallas, and Anthony Davis had just been drafted.he recalled, highlighting the fact of having been able to compete with professionals even before entering the university, which he will do two years later, in Kentucky. “I had spent the summer playing against Greivis Vasquez, Andrei Kirilenko, Timofey Mozgov (during the Olympic qualifying tournament). Most of the time I was on the bench, but watching these players, I thought I could kick their ass. If I’m given a chance to step onto the pitch, I might do something special. »
In the big leagues
Team USA had in any case unfolded during the meeting against the Dominican Republic, winning 113 to 59, with in particular 24 points from Kevin Durant. But the important thing was elsewhere for Karl-Anthony Towns, who remembered this match as a pivotal moment marking the beginnings of his professional career.
“I remember that on match, it’s not as if I had put 20 points and 10 rebounds, I believe that I had compiled 5 points and 2-3 assists (in fact 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block in 9 minutes). I had only played in the last quarter. But above all it was the confidence I played with when I entered the field, with passes behind the back against the best players in the world, shooting from 3-pointers, being confident in my qualities and being productive. . I felt like I belonged.”
This meeting had thus been a click, since he was able to realize his room for improvement before arriving in the NBA, where he entered through the front door three years later, as the first choice of the 2015 Draft.
“After that game, I told myself that when I got to the NBA, I was going to be a problem. The question was no longer to try to enter it. But more “once I get there…the league won’t be ready for me”. And I was still a freshman in high school, so I had three years to raise the sauce before arriving in the NBA (…). I was already very confident in my abilities, but it boosted my confidence”.
| Karl Anthony Towns | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 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 |
| Total | 511 | 34 | 52.6 | 39.5 | 83.5 | 2.9 | 8.2 | 11.2 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 23.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
