Confident Karl-Anthony Towns ready to lead his future team to NBA title
With the NBA Finals over, the basketball world’s gaze now shifts to next week’s NBA draft. Basketball analysts are focusing on the draft entrants, but none of them are under as much scrutiny as Karl Anthony-Towns, the 19-year-old sensation from the University of Kentucky. Almost unanimously projected to be the first overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Towns has the distinction of being the draft’s most dynamic prospect.
Having played under John Calipari at Kentucky, as well as on the Dominican Republic’s national basketball team, Towns has been carefully developed by one of the greatest coaches in college basketball into a dominant center whose defensive prowess has received universal praise. Though he enters the draft with only one year of college experience under his belt, he has no nerves about him, given his perpetually calm demeanor. Given all his accomplishments, as well as the professionalism with which he handles himself, it’s easy to forget that Towns is still a teenager.
Q: Everyone who talks about you says, “He’s only 19.” In what ways do you already feel like a seasoned vet? In what ways do you still feel like a teenager?
Towns: You know what? I feel like a teenager when I come to events like [E3]. I grew up playing games like Call of Duty. Also going back home and hanging out with my childhood friends — it keeps me young. I feel very refreshed and rejuvenated. I’m just keeping to who I am and who I’ve always been. I haven’t changed [as a person] … you know what I mean? When I go home, I’ll go out to the movies or go to the park with my friends. [As for being someone with a lot of experience] look at my Dominican background. I’ve already been blessed to play two years already [with the national team], including twice against Team USA, so I’ve played against some of the best players in the NBA already. I’ve played at Kentucky, which by itself, playing one year at Kentucky is like playing five years anywhere else.
Q: Your basketball life is about to change. John Calipari has coached you since you were 16 when you got called up to play for the Dominican national team and of course last year at Kentucky. How will it affect you not playing under Coach Calipari on a daily basis?
Towns: It’s going to be different, but you need to take what you’ve learned and you utilize it in the best way possible in order to play at the next level. Also, it’ll be different because I was only at Kentucky for one year. Most people stay for at least two or three years, but I cut my time at Kentucky short.
Q: Everybody knows that you’re the best player in the draft and should be taken first. But why do you think you should?
Towns: You know, I just have full confidence in myself, and whatever happens, happens. Whether I’m picked first, second, 59th or 60th, I’m going to go to whichever team picks me and try to win a championship.
Q: As far as we know, you haven’t worked out with either the Timberwolves or the Lakers. Is there any reason why?
Towns: I’m just focusing on improving my game right now, man. Just practicing and making myself into the absolute best basketball player that I can be.
Q: What would appeal more to you? Laying low in a city like Minneapolis or playing in the bright lights of a big city like Los Angeles?
Towns: Honestly, it doesn’t matter to me. At the end of the day, basketball is all that matters and I’m going to stay the way I’ve always been.
Q: What would it mean to you to be the first Dominican-American to be picked first in the NBA draft?
Towns: It would be an honor. I would be blessed, but just to be picked into the NBA is special enough. It’s just a confirmation of your dreams that you’ve finally made it, and it proves that age-old idea that if you work hard enough at something, you can make it happen.
Q: How competitive are you in Call of Duty and how does that compare with your intensity on the court?
Towns: I’m competitive the same in both. No matter what I’m doing — walking down the hall, walking down the street — I want to be first [always]. I just want to win, and that’s just the competitive nature of an athlete. It’s just something that comes with the territory. So I’m equally competitive in a game like Call of Duty as I am in basketball.
Q: One last question: On draft night, what are you going to wear?
Towns: I’m definitely going to take a risk [laughs]. In all seriousness though, I just want to have fun.
Yahoo Sports spoke to Karl Anthony-Towns during his time at E3 in Los Angeles, where he was promoting “Call of Duty: Black Ops 3,” scheduled for release on Nov. 6.
