Karl-Anthony Towns is reminding the league that bigs are still relevant

Karl-Anthony Towns is reminding the league of the revolution of the modern big. 

Back in the good old days existed the players who could be considered to represent the “golden age” of the big man in the NBA. Mammoth-sized giants with huge wingspans, incredible athleticism, and leaping ability equipped with special moves like the patented skyhook with a display of brute strength as they ruled inside the paint.

The center was considered the prototypical position to build a franchise around back then as many would consider Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson, and Willis Reed to be some of the all-time greats from their respective eras.

My dad and I often have conversations about how the center position has evolved and how it brings a different dynamic to the game making coaches adjust their game plan by having to account for them other than guarding them inside the paint.

Let’s take Karl-Anthony Towns‘ 60-point performance for example. It happened to be the first 60-point game this season and it was also Towns’ career high. It’s also insane knowing that he dropped 60 points while also grabbing 17 rebounds in the process in only 36 minutes of action while scoring 32 of his 60 in the 3rd quarter which was the 5th most points scored in a quarter in NBA history.

The 60 points is also a new Minnesota Timberwolves franchise record. The new breed of big men we are currently witnessing in today’s game is complete opposites from what we saw in the past. The versatility and mobility these players are blessed with is astounding.

Players like KAT, reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, Nikola Vucevic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, Al Horford, Joel Embiid and Domantas Sabonis can all score from all three levels, can be a force on the boards, can protect the rim, can shoot a high percentage from downtown and have the capabilities to take over a game if the situation calls for it. Anthony Towns attributes really do stand out as a good example of the modern-day center in the NBA.

The fact that he can hit with a stepback one play and then come back on the very next possession and dominate in the paint is scary. The 3-point shot in his arsenal has really opened up his game and has allowed him to find it easier finishing at the basket as a result of teams having to respect his range. Towns needs to continue being more assertive on the offensive end as he displayed all the tools necessary to be a dominant force in this league.

Towns also often gets unfairly labeled as a soft player due to him being 6-foot-11 and weighing in at 248 pounds but his style of play is more tailored to today’s finesse run and gun high octane offenses. He isn’t really a bully in the paint like Embiid or the traditional centers of the 80s and 90s but he sure isn’t soft by any means.

Even though he is an efficient 3-point shooter, Towns can still improve his game with his back to the basket and improve his footwork. He also possesses a nasty jab step which often leads to buckets over his opponents if he gets off on a quick first step and also frequently goes to the pump fake which helps him get to the line on a daily basis.

As it’s always refreshing to see a huge scoring output such as Anthony Towns, it’s also a reminder of how the big men once dominated a now guard-infused league which tailors to shooters and players being able to spread the floor beating their defender in isolation. Towns’ performance was reminiscent of Abdul-Jabbar’s 55-point performance in 1971 against the Celtics. We also can reflect back on Shaq’s dominant performance against the LA Clippers back in 2000 when he scored 61 points and grabbed 28 rebounds. And who could forget Chamberlain’s 100-point masterpiece back in 1962?

To debate about which era was the best when it comes to dominant big men in the NBA is an argument for another day but this is all about how KAT’s performance reminds us how big men have evolved as they are responsible for reinventing the way the center position is played and defined. KAT has been having a dream season so far by winning the 3-point shootout during the all-star weekend to the Wolves in prime position to qualify for the postseason.

Hopefully, KAT can keep it going as a daily reminder along with the other talented big men in the league that they still remain relevant.