Karl-Anthony Towns has expressed his strong optimism with his newest big ball partner in Rudy Gobert.
He believes that his offensive wonders, combined with Gobert’s defensive reputation, can only complement and bring great choices to utilize on the side of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“I think that Rudy’s one of the best defensive players we’ve ever had in the NBA. He has the hardware to prove it,” Towns told CBS Sports’ Colin Ward-Henninger. “I think I’m one of the best offensive players and talents the NBA has ever seen. So putting us together gives us really a whole spectrum of talent to use.”
The Timberwolves, guided by their newly-acquired leader in basketball operations Tim Connelly, took a gamble this offseason, packaging a blockbuster offer of Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Leandro Bolmaro, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt and a total of four first-round picks and shipped it to the Utah Jazz in order to gain Gobert. The transaction jolted the entire NBA, with the club sending a clear message that they are ready to go all in for the ultimate prize – a “
Upon the arrival of Gobert, Minnesota is widely being assumed to leap much higher in the 2022-2023 season. Combining the French tower with the franchise’s promising core, the future can’t even look brighter enough.
With Towns, it allows him to finally play his natural power forward role while focusing primarily on carrying the team’s offensive responsibilities with Anthony Edwards. The soon placement of Gobert at the center spot further allows him to space up the floor and laser the basket with his remarkable shooting ability as a big man.
But questions are floating with regards to his capabilities to defend the much more agile and dynamic players at his position. For Towns, he can do it by himself and adjust through the challenge at hand.
“I’ve had a lot of fun playing on the perimeter and guarding on the perimeter,” Towns said. “Just really getting a chance to utilize what some of my strengths are defensively, which is switching and being able to guard one through five.
“I’m having fun going out there and being able to back Rudy up when he needs to muscle with fives or fours and we’re playing big lineups or whatever, and then if they go small ball I feel very comfortable with my chances of guarding guards and stuff like that, the wings.”
Like the team’s fan base, there is no doubt that Towns is very much looking forward to finally spark up and ignite the next season with burning hope. By having a highly reputable, shot blocking giant that mixes well with his refined offensive weapons, he is now ready to go beyond deeper and finally bring the Twin City to the basketball’s promised land.
