Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves has set the NBA championship as his goal. The Big Man cites Rudy Gobert’s commitment as the reason.
“Now is the time to get started. Rudy Gobert’s trade has come true. There is no more time. There are no more excuses. We have to do it now. Either the championship or a huge disappointment,” said the All-NBA center -Third-Team 2022 in the official announcement of his Supermax contract extension.
Towns is particularly pleased about the addition of three-time Defensive Player of the Year Gobert. “I think he (Rudy Gobert) will play a huge part in making us a championship team. It’s my job to support him just like he does me,” said the 26-year-old. “His strengths are my weaknesses and his weaknesses are my strengths,” Towns emphasized the fit with the Frenchman.
The Timberwolves gave up four first-round picks and one pick swap for Gobert’s services. A relatively high price for the triple All-Star. Whether the risk pays off remains to be seen. Towns will have to play more on the four. The lineup with two large twin towers is more against the trend of the current NBA.
The 2021-22 season ended for the Wolves in a playoff loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. It was the first playoff appearance for Minnesota since 2018. There was a chance of winning against the favored Morant team.
The Gobert trade at a glance
| received jazz | Obtained Timberwolves |
| Malik Beasley | Rudy Gobert |
| Patrick Beverley | |
| Jarred Vanderbilt | |
| Leandro Bolmaro | |
| Walker Kessler | |
| 3 unprotected first-round picks (2023, 2025, 2027) | |
| 1 Top 5 Protected First Round Pick (2029) | |
| 1 Pick-Swap (2026) |
Voting to the 2022 All-NBA third team made Towns eligible to sign a supermax extension. That’s $211 million over the next four years. In 2027/28, the superstar earned $ 58.4 million. For Minnesota, the offer was almost without alternative.
Finally, Towns is committed to the franchise. The 2016 Rookie of The Year has always said he wants to stay. Ever since he was drafted, he says his dream has been to live every day of his NBA career as a wolf.
Towns is also one of the most talented offensive bigs in the league. The winner of the three-point contest can also radiate danger from the outside. In the 2021/22 season, he increased his average from downtown to 41 percent and called himself the best shooting big.
Throughout his career, Towns has 23.2 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists over seven seasons with 52 percent FG and 39.7 percent three-pointers in 34.2 minutes per game.
Town’s stats in the NBA
| Saison | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| 2015/16 | 18,3 | 10,5 | 2,0 |
| 2016/17 | 25,1 | 12,3 | 2,7 |
| 2017/18 | 21,3 | 12,3 | 2,4 |
| 2018/19 | 24,4 | 12,4 | 3,4 |
| 2019/20 | 26,5 | 10,8 | 4,4 |
| 2020/21 | 24,8 | 10,6 | 4,5 |
| 2021/22 | 24,6 | 9,8 | 3,6 |