According to ESPN’s Saturday night NBA national broadcast, three-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t considered a star.
During the Warriors-Mavericks game, ESPN displayed a graphic showing
“Games Missed by Stars” this season, and the two players at the top of the list were Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers and Devin Booker of the Suns, who had both missed 25 games due to injury or rest this season.
Karl-Anthony Towns would lead this “list” at 34 games missed. Zero respect, as usual. https://t.co/3jpYAIEsUn
— John Meyer (@meyerNBA) February 5, 2023
Towns has been out since late November with a calf strain. As of the time of Saturday’s broadcast he had missed 33 games (now 34 after missing Sunday’s blowout win over Denver).
This is just the latest in a string of national media disrespect and oversight of the Timberwolves. For starters, Anthony Edwards was an All-Star snub. Then there was The Ringer naming 32 players better than Edwards, and Ryen Russillo’s harsh criticism towards D’Angelo Russell.
Don’t forget that TNT scrubbed the Wolves-Nuggets game from the national platform to make way for LeBron James to maybe break the NBA scoring record.
At 13-6 since Jan. 1, Minnesota owns the fourth-best winning percentage in the NBA since the start of the New Year, trailing only the 76ers, Nuggets and Bucks.
KAT being neglected by ESPN shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone. It’s been happening for decades and it’s nothing more than the newest sleight against a team that very well could make some noise in the playoffs.
