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Karl-Anthony Towns – 6’11” Center, University of Kentucky, 19 years old
Offensive Game – Karl-Anthony Towns has an consistent jump shot and is able to make a steady stream of mid-ranged jumpers and threes. The center also does not suffer from the free throw problems that plague most of the league’s big men. He shoots about 80 percent from the charity stripe. Towns knows his way around the basket and is able finish in the paint. He has the favorable size and length and has shown to be a tenacious rebounder. For a big man, he has great court vision and is a fantastic passer. The UK product also moves quicker than most people expect. At 6’11”, 250 lbs, Towns hustles up and down the court with the speed and mobility that many players his size lack.
There is still some room for improvement in certain areas. Towns’ post-offense needs to be refined and improved. At times he looks clumsy and uncoordinated when backing down on the block. This may imply that Towns has to work on bettering the strength in his lower body and his overall balance.
Defensive game – One of Towns best attributes is his ability to contest and return shots back to sender. He has impeccable timing and added to his length results in a skilled shot blocker. Towns gives his all whenever he is on the floor. He hustles back and shows a willingness to play defense. Towns plays hard and his competitive nature is frequently on full display. The center has shown that he is capable of keeping up and defending smaller players.
NBA potential – If all goes well and Towns avoids obstacles such as injury, he can be a dominant center in the NBA. Of course there are still aspects of his game that requires improvement, but there is high upside with Towns. His talent and potential are obvious and any team would be very fortunate to acquire him. Currently, Towns is projected to be the first pick in the upcoming NBA Draft although the results of the NBA Lottery will need to be known to really get a handle on this.
NBA Player Comparison – Although certain aspects of his play need to be more refined (for instance his play in the post), Karl-Anthony Towns’ game resembles that of NBA Center Pau Gasol. Like Gasol, Towns is able to score in the paint, pull up for mid-ranged jump shots, and hit the occasional three. He is also a very effective passer and has excellent court vision. Towns would be a better rim protector and defender than Gasol, but there is still much the young NBA prospect to learn. For now, expect Towns to be a player who would find fit the description similar to that of the Spanish center and he is not a bad person to be compared to.
NBA Readiness – Considering that Karl-Anthony Towns is the projected first pick in the NBA draft, he will most likely be chosen to be the cornerstone or building block of a struggling franchise. It is safe to speculate that Towns will be starter and play an important role for his team’s success. There is much to be expected from this young player and it will be interesting to see how he will impact the game upon his arrival into the NBA.
