Karl-Anthony Towns’ rookie season continues to impress. Already the near-consensus rookie of the year, the Minnesota Timberwolves center has been putting on a show at All-Star Weekend. First, he showcased his talents in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday. Then on Saturday, he did the near-impossible: the big man won the Skills Challenge.
In a unique twist on the annual event, the league allowed four big men the opportunity to compete against guards – the traditional participants of the contest. The former Kentucky Wildcat beat Draymond Green in the first round of the competition before narrowly winning against DeMarcus Cousins. Then in a very entertaining final, KAT barely won against Celtics’ point guard Isaiah Thomas before being smothered by other players in celebration.
The show was another opportunity for Towns to showcase the skills and talents that have made him a phenomenal and historic rookie. The big man was also able to win one for big-men everywhere when most would think this event would be dominated by a guard. Towns has shown that he will be a special player in real games, but he showcased some of the evidence for that in front of a national audience on Saturday.
