He’s sitting on a bank account stuffed with earnings from a $158 million contract. He’s the self-proclaimed greatest big-man shooter in NBA history. He’s an All-Star, possibly an All-NBA player. He was drafted No. 1 overall and tasked with reviving the NBA’s most putrid franchise.
Seven years into his career and Karl-Anthony Towns hasn’t taken the Timberwolves to new heights, despite proclamations and a contract that says he should be able to do it.
It’s hard not to think Golden State’s Draymond Green was talking about Towns when he said Tuesday night that not everybody is made for the playoffs.
“Everybody not made for the playoffs,” Green said. “I don’t know if y’all can see that. Around the league, but look around the league and everybody just not cut out for the playoffs. [Gary Payton II] is showing with his toughness and with the mindset that he has, you come out and do what you do.”
Towns has no-showed two consecutive games after erupting in Game 1 for 29 points and 13 points in Minnesota’s 130-117 victory to begin the best-of-seven playoff series against the Grizzlies.
In Game 2 he posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, but he only scored six points over the final three quarters. Game 3 was a disaster as Towns finished with eight points and had more fouls (5) than shot attempts (4).
“You gotta give credit to guys that show up in the playoffs,” Green said. “It’s just not a normal thing around this league. You look around and some guys that you think are guys are not guys in the playoffs. That’s just what it is.”
"Everybody not made for the playoffs." 🔥
Draymond Green on giving credit where it's due to players who know how to step up 😤pic.twitter.com/AFFPn1vCAH
— Warriors Nation (@WarriorNationCP) April 22, 2022
Towns also no-showed in Games 1 and 2 of Minnesota’s 2018 playoff series against the Houston Rockets. He had eight points in Game 1 and just five points in Game 2, prompting Tom Thibodeau to benh him with about seven minutes left in the third quarter and he didn’t return.
“It’s playoffs and it’s a different ball game,” Towns said after Game 2 in 2018. “The physicality is different and the way the game is played is different. We’ve got to adjust, accordingly.”
Game 4 is in Minneapolis Saturday at 9 p.m. and it’s another opportunity for Towns to prove he’s made for the big moments.
