NBA: 5 early-season dark horse MVP candidates

3. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been one of the surprise teams in the young season with a 6-4 record.

In the offseason, the Wolves acquired former Rockets general manager Greg Rosas. With Rosas at the helm, he’s increased star player Karl-Anthony Towns usage rate tremendously – similar to James Harden – which has resulted in MVP-level play. Towns is averaging 25.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in eight games.

The Timberwolves’ new style of play has Towns utilizing one of the most underrated aspects of his game, his ability to shoot the 3-ball. The Kentucky product’s expanded game has proved to be pivotal in Minnesota’s success. Thus far, Karl-Anthony Towns is shooting more than double the amount of his 3-point attempts from a season ago at 9.3 per game, while hitting them at a 40 percent clip.

His incredible shooting touch added with his already elite post game makes him one of the toughest covers in the league. At 23 years of age, Towns has completely honed his abilities and just merely scratched the surface of his unique potential.

Even with the stellar play of other players at his position,( Embiid, Jokic) Towns played his way into the same tier as the aforementioned players. That being, the MVP conversation.