While the Timberwolves’ front office and coaching staff takes shape, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins are working behind the scenes to change the culture at Target Center.
Months after ending another losing season, Towns and Wiggins attended Tuesday’s press conference for head coach Ryan Saunders, and afterward spoke highly of their 33-year-old leader and vowed to give fans their all.
“Me and Wig have day-by-day been trying to change the culture here,” said Towns in an interview with Wolves radio man Alan Horton. “That’s why we’re already – all of us are here – already back since two weeks ago getting our job done and getting to work. We’re ready to go. And the fans deserve the best of me, Wig, and [we] damn sure are going to give them that.”
Towns hasn’t been questioned by fans and media to the level that Wiggins has, but the 24-year-old former No. 1 overall pick said Saunders’ belief in him is extra fuel to reach new heights in 2019-20.
“It goes a long way when every day your head coach is coming to you saying he believes in you,” said Wiggins. “He wants you to be more aggressive and he believes in you. Pretty sure he’s done that every day, just telling me he believes in me.”
“I feel like it gives any player confidence.”
Wiggins needs to show growth next season. Last season was the fourth straight campaign Wiggins’ shooting percentage dropped, all while doing little in the form of rebounding and assisting teammates.
Wiggins’ shooting percentages year-by-year:
- 2014-15: 43.7%
- 2015-16: 45.9%
- 2016-17: 45.2%
- 2017-18: 43.8%
- 2018-19: 41.2%
With four years remaining on his contract – each year paying him between $25-33 million – the Wolves need more from Wiggins to avoid sitting on what could easily be considered one of the worst value contracts in the NBA.
Towns added that he believes the duo of Gersson Rosas, the new president of basketball operations, and Saunders, can “take Minnesota where it rightfully should be, and that’s the top of the NBA.”
