Karl-Anthony Towns has become one of the best offensive centers in the NBA since he was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Towns led a strong class that included future stars such as D’Angelo Russell, Kristaps Porzingis, Myles Turner and Devin Booker.
Towns has asserted his dominance over the years, although he’s been unable to win a championship so far. After nine years with the Timberwolves, he was traded to the New York Knicks last offseason.
While his offense is top-notch, his defense has been subjected to criticism since he first entered the league. He was considered a potential dual-threat in college, but Towns has failed to develop his defensive side.
His struggles with fouls remain a big topic around the league, but Eamon Cassels of Dunking with the Wolves credits John Calipari for “tricking” the NBA on Towns’ upside despite having a concerning foul rate in college.
John Calipari hid Karl-Anthony Towns’ defensive struggles, analyst says
Cassels writes that the 2.3 blocks per game he averaged in college didn’t translate into the NBA, and the 2.9 fouls in 21.1 minutes in college were a significant enough red flag for NBA scouts.
Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts after he drew the foul in the first half against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden on April 08, 2025.
“Playing in John Calipari’s system and for an elite Kentucky squad certainly benefited Towns,” he wrote. “As a result, many people overlooked Towns’ defensive red flags and set expectations for him to be a two-way monster. Last season, opponents shot 65.7 percent at the rim against Towns. In addition to struggling as a rim protector, Towns isn’t very mobile and can be attacked on switches, especially given his poor discipline.”
Towns was still selected with the No. 1 overall pick 10 years ago and he remains a star in the NBA, even if he will never be known for his defensive expertise or toughness.
