Karl-Anthony Towns came to the NBA last year with an array of moves that belied his 19 years, with an enthusiasm that won the state over, with a performance that earned him the NBA's Rookie of the Year Award.
And it was nowhere near enough for Towns.
So, this summer, Towns took on a weekslong research project. Determined to reach another level, Towns reached out to Hall of Famers and those destined to end up there. He talked to some via phone, some over dinner.
"I talked to a lot of NBA superstars, legends, about how I can improve myself offensively and defensively," Towns said. And while he didn't want to name names, at least one is the recently retired Kevin Garnett, who spent last season mentoring Towns. But Towns wasn't just talking Xs and Os with these people.
"Not just skill-wise," he said, "but taking a leadership role. Just different ways they led, whether he was more emotional or more conservative. I learned how to deal with it from their standpoint in the NBA."
Remember, Towns will not turn 21 until Nov. 15.
But Wolves fans have watched Towns play and listened to him talk for a year now. They see how versatile he is on the court and how smooth he is off of it. Sometimes, listening to him talk, you feel like you're talking to a Dale Carnegie grad. Can this be real?
Yes. This isn't a sales pitch, it's a statement of purpose:
"I want to be able to be what KG (Garnett) was," Towns said. "I think I have that in me. I showed it a little last year a little bit. But I want to show it even more this year."
