Four years into the league and Karl-Anthony Towns hasn't really garnered the respect he deserves. Of course, he was the No. 1 pick of the draft but coming in as a 19-year-old, we take for granted that he's dominated from the jump. At 23 years old, he's already a two-time All-Star and All-NBA honoree, and has led his team to the postseason.
His career and accomplishments are outstanding, but they've at times have been overshadowed by what's going on around him and out of his control. From the constant personnel movement to the Jimmy Butler situation, it's been a lot for a young player to balance. That's why Towns believes this season will be an important one in his career.
"It's a big year because it's the first year of stability where we know what the next day holds," Towns says. "We have had so much instability that no one has gotten a chance to see us play without some type of commotion behind us. For the first time, we go in with a clear mindset."
The NBA is pretty much wide open next season with the Warriors hobbled, and even Towns admitted that his squad needs to take advantage. "It's a window for us that we wish was open in a different circumstance, but we got to take advantage of it," Towns says.
We caught up with KAT in New York to discuss Gillette's new SkinGuard Razor’s, possibly teaming up with D'Angelo Russell, the wide-open Western conference, and Derrick Rose's comments on young players being spoiled in the NBA.
(This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.)
Tell us about the SkinGuard Razor. Why should the average man go out and cop this?
It's the best product out there for skin irritation. Me and you being black, it's actually handmade for us guys. It keeps irritation, skin bumps, and in-grown hairs away. I personally use because, when I'm on the court, I never want to have skin irritation or bumps, because when sweat hits that, it's over. It's a perfect match.
What's it like being a Gillette athlete? There have been some iconic ones, like Jeter, Federer, Tiger...
It’s a huge honor, when you say names like that, for Gillette to look at me as an athlete like those legends, it's a huge honor. Just gotta keep going and keep doing what I'm doing. All those guys won chips so I gotta put myself in the same category.
The Anthony Davis trade has been the big news recently. What are your thoughts on the league taking a bit of a swing here with the deal?
The West was always hard so it was never a thought of, "Oh, it makes the West harder." He was already in the West, and it was already difficult. There's just more concentration of talent. Both sides, honestly. While the Lakers get a superb talent in Anthony Davis, New Orleans is getting a lot of great talent in return. While the Lakers got the star talent, New Orleans got the depth, so it's a win for both teams.
What are your thoughts on Zion Williamson?
I've been fortunate enough to work out with Zion. I've been in the gym with him this whole draft process. The man is a freak when it comes to his athleticism. The way he jumps and just his build. He looks like a defensive tackle more than a basketball player. Built like a football player with the athleticism we've rarely seen. He's a special talent. I think that with his ability and his intangibles, his family, I think he has a chance to be something truly special.
I saw your tweet the other day. You have had the All-Star appearances, you have had the playoff experience, but now it’s taking it to the next level. Do you feel like next year is a big point in your career?
It's a big year because it's the first year of stability where we know what the next day holds. I think it's a huge year for us because we have had so much instability that no one has gotten a chance to see us play without some type of commotion behind us. For the first time, we go in with a clear mindset. With everything, including our bumps in the road, we're truly going to have a chance to do something special. It’s a big season for us and hopefully we can keep it moving in the right direction.
Next season, there's a lot of people you can add to the roster, specifically your boy D'Angelo Russell. Would it be open to team up with D-Lo in Minnesota?
Of course, of course. That would be a huge move for us to get him to come to Minnesota. For me to have my brother with me would make the game so much more fun. We got work to do for that to happen. Regardless if he's in or not, we gotta find ways to win. There's great talent in free agency and the draft, and we don't have much time to mess up. We have to get now.
Derrick Rose recently came out with some comments about young players being spoiled in the league. Do you feel Derrick Rose is correct in what he said?
Things are earned in this world. Especially now with Twitter, Instagram, these things are earned more than ever. People have opinions night in, night out that are utterly absurd to utterly factual. People earned what they are given; it's been since the beginning of time until now. That's just how it is. Nowadays younger guys are given a lot but it’s because they've earned that.
They've earned that through their work, through their performance. It's just that more eyes get to see more now than ever. We're able to do things at a younger age like never before, thanks to social media publicity. The world has changed; it’s not what it used to be. Years ago, we're talking four years in college. Now, you're coming out 18 years and you're expected to produce at the highest level while going through puberty. It's a lot, but there are kids that are able to do it.
You're a big music guy as well. Specifically Mac Miller, how has his legacy and music impacted your life?
I've been a big Mac Miller fan since a decade ago. They got pictures of me on the Dominican team eight years ago getting off the bus with a Blue Slide Park shirt on. I've been a huge fan of his. It's a very funny situation how we got to meet each other. We just show had a good connection, and we grew into a great friendship. He was someone who was really close to me. Called him like a best friend. He was definitely the homie.
You learn a lot from things like that, and I learned a lot from his life. I learned a lot from being around him, I learned a lot from everything that happened. I'm just glad I had the time I did with him because a lot of people didn't even get to meet the legend. I was fortunate to have dinners with him and talk to him all the time and have him over my house, while I would also go to his house and do the little things that people would die for, to have moments with him like that.
Drake is your Kentucky family kinda. Was it cool seeing his squad win and him as well, essentially?
[Laughs.]Damn, Drake won a championship? I mean, it would've been nice for us to stop the [Kentucky] curse, but I'm happy for not only him but the city of Toronto. The Six grinded this one out with Vince Carter, T-Mac, Chris Bosh. They always got close. For them to finally come out on top, you got to first to give a shoutout to Kawhi Leonard, but definitely the whole squad as well. It's not won by one guy; it's a collective group. Also a huge shoutout to their front office. In the end, they developed that organization.
Ujiri and their crew built that up. It's a process to get to that spot and even have a chance and they did from the ground up. Finding players that were undervalued and making them valuable is a very hard thing, and they did it. Toronto earned. They beat the defending champs fair and square. It's great that Drake gets to have his moment even though he didn't play a game. It damn near looked like he played 42 minutes after every game.
Staying on the topic of the Finals, the Warriors will obviously not be the team they have been in the past with the injuries. Do you feel like this is a window for you guys to assert yourselves with the whole NBA pretty much being open next year?
It would be a lie to tell you no. Of course it's a window that's open. The dynasty that is the Warriors I wouldn't say is coming to an end. It may just be a halt. Obviously they've suffered two horrific injuries. It happened to our brotherhood—not just to the Warriors, but to the whole NBA as a brotherhood. But it's a window. It's a window for us that we wish was open in a different circumstance, but we got to take advantage of it.
I don't know if you saw the boy in the Dominican Republic, hooping without shoes. Talk about the talent that goes unnoticed because of resources in the country you have a lot of pride for.
Yes! I saw. It doesn't matter if it's America or overseas, there's a kid out there who's talented just as any other kid, but he just doesn't have the resources to showcase his talent or continue his passion. I think of my country and all the talent and potential the island has. People don't think about the NBA or the MLB; they think about getting off the island themselves. Basketball-wise, we have a lot of great talent that is untapped right because of the situation.
